Bernardino Campi

Bernardino Campi (* 1522 in Cremona; † August 18, 1591 in Reggio Emilia ) was an Italian painter and draftsman in Cremona.

Bernardino Campi was the son of the goldsmith Pietro Campi and probably also related to Vincenzo Campi. Already in his early youth Campi got his first art lessons from his father and learned from him the goldsmith's craft.

Later Campi pupil of the painter Giulio Campi to be a painter himself. Supported by his teacher, Campi later went to Mantua and became a student of Ippolito Costa, a son Lorenzo Costas. Where he met Giulio Romano and know his work and appreciate.

1550 invited him to Isabella of Capua, the wife of Ferrante Gonzaga, to Milan one to paint a series of family portraits.

Having returned to Cremona, he founded a studio and had a number of students; Sofonisba Anguissola, inter alia, her sister Elena and Giovan Battista Trotti. During this time, Campi also published his book Parer sopra la pittura. At the age of about 70 years Bernardino Campi died on August 18, 1591 in Reggio Emilia.

Although Campi could emerge from the shadow of his teachers and soon found his own style, his art is yet close to Titian. Campi copied Titian part so well that contemporary audiences between original and copy could scarcely distinguish; but also Correggio and Raphael are among Campi models.

Works (selection)

• Cross - acceptance
• St. Cecilia and St. Catherine