Correggio

(b 1489 Correggio, Italy; d 1534 Correggio, Italy) Antonio Allegri, known as Correggio after his birthplace, was a relatively unappreciated painter during his lifetime. Vasari alluded to Correggio’s anonymity in his biography of the artist, stating: “as he always lived apart, he was never portrayed by any other artist”. His style was a synthesis of High Renaissance technique and Baroque mood and feeling, though technically he worked during the Mannerist period in Italy and predated the beginning of the Baroque era. Correggio enjoyed great fame after his death, with his paintings being heralded for their drama and sensuality by artists such as the Carracci. His reputation reached its height with the Baroque and Rococo artists of the 17th and 18th centuries, as they saw a kindred spirit, especially in his handling of mythological themes.