Valerio Castello

File:Valerio Castello - Moses Striking the Rock - WGA04539.jpg

Moses Striking the Rock

Valerio Castello (1624 – October 1659) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He was very active during his short life in Genoa.

Biography

He was the youngest son of Bernardo Castello, who died when Valerio was six years old. Valerio and his brothers were attached to the noble family of Torquato, and while he had been intended to study a literate profession, he showed an affinity to drawing. This was noted by his patrons, who arranged his apprenticeship with Domenico Fiasella. He arranged to travel to Milan with Agostino Merano, the sibling of Giovanni Battista Merano, where he admired the work of Camillo Proccacini. From there, he traveled to Parma.

He excelled in painting battle-scenes. He was also quite prolific within Genoa during his short life. He painted the Rape of the Sabines, now in the Palazzo Brignole, Genoa, and decorated the cupola of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato in the same city. For the house of Francesco Maria Balbi, he collaborated with the quadraturista from Bologna, Andrea Sghizzi to fresco the palace. He painted a Diana and Acteaon with Pan and Syrinx now at the Norton Art Museum. He painted a Consolation of Saint Francis now at the Blanton Museum of Art.

In his works he is regarded by his admirers as combining the fire of Tintoretto with the general style of Paolo Veronese. Castello influenced the work of young Domenico Piola. Among his pupils were Bartolomeo Biscaino, Giovanni Paolo Cervetto, and Stefano Magnasco (the father of Alessandro).

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 
• Camillo Manzitti, Valerio Castello, Turin, 2004. 2nd edition 2008.
• Camillo Manzitti, Valerio Castello, Genoa, 1972.
• Valerio Castello 1624-1659 Genio Moderno, Catalogue of the exhibition curated by Marzia Cataldi Gallo, Luca Leoncini, Camillo Manzitti, Daniele Sanguinetti, Ginevra-Milano, 2008.
• Raffaele Soprani, Le Vite de Pittori, Scoltori et Architetti Genovesi, Giuseppe Bottaro e Gio Battista Tiboldi Compagni, Genoa, 1674. Pagine 231-236.
• Raffaello Soprani, Vite de Pittori, Scultori ed Architetti Genovesi; Second edition, volume I: revised and expanded by Carlo Giuseppe Ratti, Stamperia Casamara, dalle Cinque Lampadi, con licenza de superiori, Genova, 1768. Pagine 339-350.
• Giuseppe Ginori, Serie degli uomini i più illustri nella pittura, scultura, e architettura..., 1773.