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Andrea Mantegna Facts

Andrea Mantegna Facts
Andrea Mantegna was an Italian-born artist of the Italian Renaissance period, who would later become the son-in-law of Jacopo Bellini - a founder of Renaissance art in Northern Italy and Venice. Andrea was born in Isola di Carturo, Italy in approximately 1431. His father was Biagio, a carpenter. By the time he was 11 years old Andrea was student of the Paduan painter Francesco Squarcione, who is said to have had as many as 137 students over the years in his famous Italian school. Andrea was one of Francesco's favorite students. At 17 Andrea left the school claiming that he had not been paid for his work. Although no longer in existence, Andrea Mantegna's first known altarpiece was in 1448 for the church Santa Sofia.
Interesting Andrea Mantegna Facts:
Andrea Mantegna is considered to be the first Northern Italian full Renaissance artist.
In 1449 Andrea Mantegna was commissioned along with a number of other artists to decorate Ovetari Chapel in the church of the Eremitani.
In the bombings during WWII of Padua, most of the series in the Ovetari Chapel were destroyed.
Andrea Mantegna's early fresco work also includes the two saints above the Padua church of Sant'Antonio's porch entrance, which he created in 1452.
Andrea Mantegna created an altarpiece for the church of S.Guistina called "San Luca Altarpiece", in 1453. This piece is now located in Milan's Brera Gallery.
In 1453 Andrea Mantegna met Jacopo Bellini, a famous artist, along with his two sons, also painters, Giovanni and Gentile. Jacopo also had a daughter Nicolosia, who Andrea took a liking to. That same year Jacopo gave his blessing for Andrea and Nicolosia to marry.
Andrea Mantegna left Padua while still a young man, likely due to the animosity from Squarcione. The rest of his life was spent in Mantua, Rome, and Verona. He may have also spent time in Venice and Florence.
Andrea Mantegna created the "San Zeno Altarpiece" in 1459. It is believed to be the first major Renaissance piece created in Verona.
In 1460 Andrea Mantegna was living in Mantua and appointed the court artist by the Marquis Ludovico III Gonzaga of Mantua, who had been pressing Andrea to work for him for some time. He was paid an extremely large salary of 75 lire a month, an amount unheard of at the time.
Andrea Mantegna's Mantua masterpiece was a series of full composition frescoes in Palazzo Ducale's wedding chamber, completed in 1474.
Between 1474 and 1484 Andrea's son Bernardino died, his employer and employer's wife died, and his employer's successor who knighted Andrea also died. This created interruption in his work, but it didn't last. He was again hired by Mantua's leader.
In 1488 Pope Innocent VII commissioned Andrea Mantegna to create frescoes in Belvedere chapel in the Vatican. The frescoes were later destroyed in 1780 by Pius VI.
In 1490 Andrea returned to Mantua, and between 1490 and 1492 created the "Triumphs of Caesar", a set of none tempera paintings. Although faded, they still exist today, having been restored, and can be seen in Hampton Court Palace in London.
Andrea Mantegna started a print workshop and was the largest producer in Venice prior to 1500.
Some of Andrea Mantegna's most famous works include "St. Sebastian", "Camera degli Sposi", and "The Agony in the Garden".
Andrea Mantegna died on September 13th, 1506 in Mantua.


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