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(1709-1769)

This painter represented the Venetian school in Russia. A student of Sebastiano Ricci, he was one of the busiest painters in the field of monumental decoration, who painted ¡°in oils and fresco, with such ease as to arose admiration.¡±

In Italy he worked with Tiepolo and with Giamberrino Cignaroli from Verona on the decoration of the Palazzo Barbarigo; with Diziani on the decoration of the Palazzo Bernardi, 1743-50, and the Palazzo Contarini at S. Benedetto, c. 1748, and on his own at the Palazzo Bold¨´, 1744-45, and the Palazzo Duolo, c. 1743.

He decorated vaults and ceilings with vividly colored, theatrical, and slightly awkward creations ¡°without begging anything from reality.¡± His repertoire included allegorical and Biblical themes, and episodes from ancient history and mythology.

Certainly, in order to fully appreciate this type of ¡®palace¡¯ painting it is necessary to consider the furnishings of which it was an integral part: the stuccoes, wall hangings, gilded or lacquered furniture, lamps in Murano glass overflowing with multicolored flowers, and highly polished floors.

Fontebasso worked in Russia in 1760-1762. He is the last outstanding representative of Italian monumental painting.