Versatile and eclectic artist open to foreign influence which was unusual for an Italian artist of his time. Some of his best-known works are somewhat fantastical. He was court painter at Mantua from 1648. Comment on works: Religious; Landscapes; Animals; Mythology.

Castiglione, Giovanni Benedetto

Biography

Notable Works

Artworks

Roman Landscape with a Shepherd and Sheep

Noah and the animals entering the ark

Saint Francis in Ecstasy

Entry of the animals into Noah's ark, three men follow quadrupeds and birds striding toward the ark in the background, another male figure points the way

A satyr reclining at the foot of a staute of Priapus, goats at the right

Pan reclining at left with two standing satyrs, a large vase on a pedestal at right

A bearded man wearing a tasseled headdress facing left, from "Heads in Oriental Headdress"

Young man looking down to right, from "'Small Heads in Oriental Headdress"

Man in profile facing right, wearing a fur hat, from "Small Heads in Oriental Headdress"

Tobit burying the dead

Finding the bodies of Saints Peter and Paul

Nativity with God the Father and angels

Circe changing the companions of Ulysses into beasts

The Holy Family on their flight into Egypt

Man wearing a small turban Oonamented with plumes and ribbon, facing right, from the series of 'Small Heads in Oriental Headdress' (19th century impression)

Young man with his head lowered, wearing a turban, facing left, from the series of 'Small Heads in Oriental Headdress' (19th century impression)

Man wearing a small turban, facing right, from "Small Heads in Oriental Headdress"

Two shepherds, a donkey and other animals in a landscape

Man holding a scroll in front of his face, from "Small Heads in Oriental Headdress"

Two shepherds, a donkey and other animals in a landscape

The Expulsion of Hagar

Young herdsman on horseback

The Genius of Castiglione

Finding of the bodies of Saints Peter and Paul