Figure 1.--Niccolò dell'Abbate was born in Modena (1509/12). Modena was a northern Italian principality ruled by the Este dynasty and eventually acquired by Venice. Niccolò's father was a violinist. We know nothing about his childhood. Abbate, often referred to as just Niccolò, was a Mannerist Italian artist who worked in fresco and oils. He moved to France (1552), where he worked at the royal Château de Fontainebleau. He worked as a team directed by Francesco Primaticcio, doing mythlogical scenes as well as some portraits. He apparently traveled to a degree, because we note this a portrait done at Piancenza in northern Italy, part of the Papal States west of Modena (about 1560). The noy is a member of the Bracciforte family of Piacenza, painted about 1560. The family is better known as an influential Sicilian aristocratic. The outfit is trunk hose from which breeches or modern pants/trousers developed.

Niccolò dell'Abbate was born in Modena (1509/12). Modena was a northern Italian principality ruled by the Este dynasty and eventually acquired by Venice. Niccolò's father was a violinist. We know nothing abut his childhood. Abbate, often referred to as just Niccolò, was a Mannerist Italian artist who worked in fresco and oils. He was part of the Emilian school as well one of the artists known as the School of Fontainebleau that sometimes worked together. They played an important role introducing the Renaissance which originated in Italy to France. As a young man he trained in the studio of Alberto Fontana, a sculptor. Modena is near Ferrera, another Este town, with a reputation for painting that influenced his early career. He dis . Here Abbate did 12 frescoes, one for each book of The Aeneid, in the Palazzo dei Beccherie (1537). He spent 1548 through 1552 in Bologna, where he gained influence from Correggio and Parmigianino. Abbate moved to Bologna (1547) where he was influenced by Correggio and Parmigianino. He did a range of elaborate genre works, mostly on mythologcal and some religious subjects. He moved to France (1552), where he worked at the royal Château de Fontainebleau. He worked as a team directed by Francesco Primaticcio, again doing mythlogical scenes as well as some portraits. He apparently traveled to a degree, because we note a portrait done at Piancenza in northern Italy, part of the Papal States west of Modena (about 1560). His final effort was 16 murals completed with the assistance of his son Giulio Camillo (1571). He died that year in Fontainebleau, France.

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Created: 2:20 AM 7/6/2025
Last updated: 2:20 AM 7/6/2025