Author Description

Luca Giordano (Naples, 18 October 1634 - Naples, 12 January 1705) was an Italian painter, active mostly in Naples, Florence, Madrid and Rome.He is also known by the nickname "Luca Fapresto" ("Luca fai presto"), a nickname was given to him while he was working in the church of Santa Maria del Pianto in Naples when he painted the canvases for only two days. The nickname was also given, however, for his surprising speed in copying the great masters of the sixteenth century, including Raphael, Titian, Paolo Veronese, Caravaggio, Jusepe de Ribera and the pioneers of the Baroque such as Peter Paul Rubens, Giovanni Lanfranco, and Pietro da Cortona. Giordano's first works date back to the 50s of the 17th century, marked by a profound influence that Neapolitan painting after the arrival of Caravaggio. Later, according to biographers, his father sent him to draw the rarest works of the churches and galleries of Naples.With the works made in Florence and commissions from collectors, Giordano achieves success in every part of Italy and Europe.After his stay in Florence, called by Carlo II to his Court of Madrid, he spent the decade 1692-1702 in Spain. Luca Giordano was popular at the Spanish court (in fact, in this period he produced a great number of paintings on canvas, on copper and a fresco of sacred or secular subjects) so much so that the king granted him the title of "caballero".Returning to Naples in 1702 the artist, almost seventy years old, continued to work with the same unceasing creativity.Luca Giordano died in Naples in 1705. He is buried in the Church of Santa Brigida.He is still one of the most prolific painters who ever lived. Luca Giordano has to his credit about 3000 paintings.