Pietro Testa. Pietro Testa was an Italian High Baroque artist active in Rome.
He is best known as a printmaker and draftsman. Born in Lucca, thus sometimes called il Lucchesino.
Testa moved to Rome early in life. One source states he was ejected from the Cortona studio in 1631, soon after joining the workshop.
Others state Testa trained under Pietro Paolini or under Domenichino, for whom he worked under the patronage of Cassiano dal Pozzo. He was friends with Nicolas Poussin and Francesco Mola.
Some of his etchings, which often include work in drypoint, have a fantastic quality reminiscent of Jacques Callot, or embellishments of his Genoese contemporary Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione and even presciently suggest William Blake. His Sacrifice of Iphigenia appears to have influenced Tiepolo's rendition at Villa Valmarana in Vicenza. His early prints, from the 1630s, were often religious and were influenced by Federico Barocci. These achieve very delicate effects of light; his later ones became harder and more austere in style, as he attempted a personal version of neo-classicism, under the influence of the Carracci. Many of his later subjects were original classical subjects, the most ambitious reflecting his personal struggles. His prints were successful and frequently copied. Between 1638 and 1644, Testa completed what is perhaps his most important work, a set of complex and highly detailed e
He is best known as a printmaker and draftsman. Born in Lucca, thus sometimes called il Lucchesino.
Testa moved to Rome early in life. One source states he was ejected from the Cortona studio in 1631, soon after joining the workshop.
Others state Testa trained under Pietro Paolini or under Domenichino, for whom he worked under the patronage of Cassiano dal Pozzo. He was friends with Nicolas Poussin and Francesco Mola.
Some of his etchings, which often include work in drypoint, have a fantastic quality reminiscent of Jacques Callot, or embellishments of his Genoese contemporary Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione and even presciently suggest William Blake. His Sacrifice of Iphigenia appears to have influenced Tiepolo's rendition at Villa Valmarana in Vicenza. His early prints, from the 1630s, were often religious and were influenced by Federico Barocci. These achieve very delicate effects of light; his later ones became harder and more austere in style, as he attempted a personal version of neo-classicism, under the influence of the Carracci. Many of his later subjects were original classical subjects, the most ambitious reflecting his personal struggles. His prints were successful and frequently copied. Between 1638 and 1644, Testa completed what is perhaps his most important work, a set of complex and highly detailed e
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