The Abduction of Helen

Luca was one of the most celebrated and prolific artists of the Neapolitan Baroque; his works included altarpieces, mythological paintings and many decorative fresco cycles in palaces and churches. He was the son of the painter Antonio Giordano, and probably began his career earlier than his first documented works of 1653. He seems to have trained with Ribera or with someone in his circle. Luca is best known for open, airy compositions done in luminous colors; he had moved away from the dark manner of early 17th-century Neapolitan art as practised by Caravaggio and Jusepe de Ribera. He built upon the styles of many artists, notably the 16th-century Venetians and Pietro da Cortona, from whom he drew a new sense of light, glowing color, movement, and dramatic action. He was internationally successful and travelled widely, working in Naples, Venice, Florence and Madrid. Italian artist active in Italy and Spain.