Alessandro Turchi, detto L'Orbetto

Alessandro Turchi, known as l'Orbetto, was an Italian painter born in Verona in 1578 and died in Rome in 1649. He trained in the workshop of Felice Brusasorci and began his artistic career painting religious works for churches in Verona and for the local aristocracy, especially the Conti Giusti family, for whom he created numerous canvases. In 1609, he joined the Verona Philharmonic Academy, succeeding his master as the official painter. Later, he moved to Rome, where he was noticed by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, for whom he painted significant works such as "Christ Mourned by Magdalene and Angels" and the "Resurrection of Lazarus," still housed in the Galleria Borghese. Turchi also worked on decorating the Villa Mondragone and the Casino del Barco, prestigious commissions of the time. His art is characterized by an eclectic style combining Caravaggesque naturalism with the idealism of the Carracci, earning him the nickname "the Veronese Annibale." In 1637, he was appointed prince of the Accademia di San Luca and in 1638 became a member of the Congregation of Virtuosi at the Pantheon. He married Lucia San Giuliano in 1623, with whom he had several children, including Cecilia, who married painter Giacinto Gimignani. Despite his success, Turchi did not receive commissions for altarpieces in St. Peter's Basilica, possibly due to his eclectic nature in a highly competitive Roman art scene. His work remains an important example of the transition from early to full Baroque painting in Italy.