Artist of the month

Luca Signorelli  (Cortona c.1441 - 1523)
Italian painter

Luca Signorelli (left, with Fra Angelico).
Detail from The Deeds of the Antichrist (c.1501),
Fresco ,Orvieto cathedral.

  Thousands of painters and sculptors that appeared in the Italian Renaissance were eclipsed by the overwhelming fame of Leonardo and Michelangelo. One of those who was lucky enough to remain (slightly) unforgotten was Luca Signorelli. Why? Because of his enormous influence on later generations.

  Born in Cortona as Luca d'Egidio de Ventura at an uncertain date (probably between 1441 and 1445). His apprenticeship took place around Tuscany and Umbria. In the latter, he became a pupil to Perugino, who was also Raphael's (1483 - 1520) mentor. Piero della Francesca's (1415 -1492) influence is also notable, but it has been very overrrated: the latter was obsessed with symmetrical symplicity, while Signorelli's work, albeit strongly structured too, was more concerned with human motion and space.  He died in his hometown, and barely stopped painting until he became paralysed by his old age.

  His early style, as said before, had complex, geometrical compositions, but the more he studied the human figure, the looser his style became. These detailed drawings- mainly of the male nude -are the next best thing before those of Michelangelo, who was greatly influenced by the San Brizio chapel frescoes of Orvieto Cathedral when painting The Last Judgement (a theme they have in common); just like Raphael as he executed his frescoes in the Vatican. Luca Signorelli represents the bridge between the classical restraint of the High renaissance, embodied by Botticeli and Piero della Francesca, and the explosion of colour and movement that is Mannerism, heralded by Michelangelo.