Carlo Maratta

Carlo Maratta ( born May 13, 1625 Camerano near Ancona, † December 15, 1713 in Rome, also known as Carlo Maratti ) was an Italian painter of the Roman school.

Life

Already in his early youth showed up at Maratta a strong artistic talent. Therefore, he was sent by his family at the age of 12 years, Andrea Sacchi to Rome to study painting. With him he remained for many years and considered him his life, as his best friend and greatest mentor. In 1650 he created a altarpiece, which made him famous and earned him an idea to Pope Alexander VII, who secured him further orders. Some of his altarpieces are still standing in Roman churches.

In 1704 he was called by Pope Clement XI. knighted, received a Christian Order and was in the same year court painter of Louis XIV of France, who had seen his picture of Daphne and his work admired deeply.

During his time in Rome, he was called by the Romans " Maratti " because this name was common in Italy. Maratta, however, was his correct name.

Maratta led Sacchi's continued tradition of Raphael based on academic style and, together with his teacher considered towards the end of the 17th century as the leading painter of Rome. Besides altarpieces Maratta also painted portraits, manufactured frescoes and sculptures created. Especially as a portrait painter of his time he takes to this day an important position. International reputation he gained in particular for his paintings of the Madonna and Child, a repetition of themes from the heyday of the Renaissance. He created numerous images, some of which hang in museums in Rome, Florence, Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Brussels, St. Petersburg and in smaller galleries in the Louvre in Paris and others. But he was also a talented architect and was responsible for the design of numerous buildings.

Maratti was appointed in 1700 as President ( Principe ) of the Accademia di San Luca and finally maintained a large studio with many apprentices and employees. He is buried in the porch of S. Maria degli Angeli in Rome.

His posthumous reputation suffered temporarily, were mistaken as some inferior work of his numerous students with his own works.

Drawings and Etchings

• The Annunciation to Mary, etching 1680
• Faith and Justice, about 1676