Giovanni Battista Gaulli

Born in Genoa in 1639. After losing his parents to the plague in 1654, he developed his early artistic foundation by being exposed to the international styles of Rubens and Van Dyck.¹

At just 22, he was entrusted with decorating Il Gesù. His previous work featuring nude figures caused controversy, leading to an episode where he was ordered to repaint them with clothes.¹

A 1669 visit to Parma, where he was struck by Correggio's frescoes, led him to master the 'di sotto in su' technique. This paved the way for his later grand illusionism.¹

The Il Gesù ceiling fresco also served as Counter-Reformation propaganda. It symbolizes Catholic victory by depicting the radiant name of Jesus repelling heretics.¹

In his masterpiece 'Triumph of the Name of Jesus,' he fused painting with stucco sculpture. He created an overwhelming spatial illusion, as if the ceiling had opened up to reveal the heavens.¹

In his later years after 1685, his style shifted toward delicate compositions with subdued colors. This marked a transition from the heavy High Baroque to the lighter Rococo style.¹