Luca Giordano

In late 17th century Naples, Luca Giordano was one of the most sought-after painters. Despite his temporal position within the Baroque period, Giordano was an expert at imitating Renaissance masters. While he painted mythological and biblical scenes like most Baroque painters, he had a particular interest in painting portraits (not on commission) of great philosophers. He was known for working very quickly without sacrificing quality. While he was true to his Neapolitan origins—he avidly studied Caravaggio paintings—his trips north to Venice instilled in him a broader range of painting styles, leading to active, colorful canvases not completely dominated by chiaroscuro.