A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONAEY OF
maldi, in the Nunziata di Portoria, where Castello
represented in the ceiling of the choir the Saviour
sitting as the Judge of the World, surrounded by
angels, some bearing the instruments of the Passion, and others displaying a scroll, inscribed Venite
Benedicti, painted with a beauty of colour, and an
effect of light emanating from the figure of
Christ, which dazzle the beholder. Luca Cambiaso painted the laterals, representing the fate
of the Blessed and the Reprobate, which, though
possessed of great merit, are eclipsed by the tran-
scendent powers of Castello in composition and
expression. On visiting his native country, ambitious of leaving something worthy of his fame,
he undertook his great work in the saloon of the
Lanzi Palace at Gorlago, where he has represented
some of the most interesting subjects of the ' Hiad '
wiih a grandeur that resembles the style of Giuliu
Romano. Towards the latter part of his life he was
invited by Charles V. to visit Spain, and was employed by that monarch in the palace of the Pardo,
which he ornamented with some subjects from
Ovid, and in several other works. He died at
Madrid in 1579.
CASTELLO, Giovanni Battista, (or Castelli,) called in Castile El Genovese, to distinguish him from the painter of the same name called H Bergamasco, was a skilful painter of illuminations and miniatures, employed upon the choir books of the Escorial. He was born in Genoa in 1547, and was the brother of Bernardo Castello. He went to Spain with Cambiaso in 1583, returned to Genoa about the end of thecentury, and died in his native city in 1637.
CASTELLO, Niccol6 Granello. See Granello.
CASTELLO, Valeric, (or Castelli,) was the son of Bernardo Castello. He was born in Genoa in 1625, and was a scholar of Domenico Fiasella. He did not, however, follow the style of either his father or instructor, but made choice of prototypes more suited to his genius, by studying the works of Procaccini at Milan, and of Correggio at Parma, from whose example, and a graceful manner of disposing his figures, which was natural to him, he formed a style which may be called entirely his own. His design is sometimes not the most correct, but his works are judiciously composed, harmoniously and vigorously coloured, and admirable in their chiaroscuro. In his fresco paintings he nearly approaches the excellence of Carloni, as is evident in the cupola of the Nunziata at Genoa, and in Santa Maria. In the church of Santa Maria del Gerbino is his picture of the ' Conception,' with two laterals of the ' Marriage of the Virgin ' and the 'Presentation in the Temple ; ' and in the ceiling, in fresco, the ' Coronation of the Virgin,' with a choir of angels ; in the church of the Benedictines, the 'Annunciation ; ' at the Franciscans, the ' Conversion of St. Paul ' : at the Augustines, the ceiling representing the ' Descent of the Holy Ghost.' Valerio Castello also excelled in painting battles, and subjects of profane history, in which he seems to have followed the style of Tintoretto and Paolo Veronese. Several of these are in the palaces at Genoa. In the Louvre there is a 'Moses striking the Rock' by him; and in the Uffizi, Florence, a 'Rape of the Sabine Women.' He died at Genoa in 1659.
CASTELLUCCI, Salvi, was born at Arezzo in 1608, and was brought up in the school of Pietro da Cortona at Rome, and became a successful imitator of the facile and pleasing style of that r.iaster. Some of the churches in Arezzo possess pamtmgs by this artist which are admired for their freedom of hand and their agreeable colouring, but his chief employment was the production of easel pictures for private collections. He died in 1672. His son, Pietro Castellucci, painted in his stjle, but in a very inferior manner.
CASTIGLIONE, Francesco, was the son and pupil of Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, and painted landscapes with figures and animals. He was most successful in imitating the style of his father, and his works are often taken to be by Benedetto himself. A picture of ' Two Negroes and a Dwarf' by him is in the Dresden Gallery. He died in 1716.
CASTIGLIONE, Giovanni Benedetto, (called II Grecdetto, or sometimes II Benedetto,) was born at Genoa in 1616. He studied first under Gio- vanni Battista Paggi, and then entered the school of Giovanni Andrea de' Ferrari, but subsequently he became a disciple of Van Dyck at Genoa, and after the death of that master visited Florence, Venice, Rome, and Naples, in each of which cities he left examples of his skill and ability. Although Benedetto is distinguished throughout Europe by his easel pictures of landscapes with figures and cattle, yet he was not incompetent to reach a higher standard in art, as is evident from his fine picture of 'The Nativity' in the church of San Luca, and his ' SS. Mary Magdalene and Catherine,' in the church of the Madonna di Castello, alike in Genoa. He painted historical subjects, portraits, landscapes, and animals. In his historical works he appears not to have had in view the ideal beauty which is found in the great masters of the Roman school, nor to have attempted the elegance of form, the purity of contour, or the nobility of expression, which form the essence of historical painting. He was, however, completely successful in the style which he seems to have preferred — pastoral subjects, the march of caravans, and troops of animals. His pictures of that description are distinguished by a clear and vigorous colour, a lively and spirited touch, and an admirable effect of chiaroscuro. His figures and animals are grouped in the most picturesque manner, and his landscape is always of appropriate and pleasing scenery. The latter part of his life was passed in the service of the Duke of Mantua, who accommodated him with apartments in his palace, and treated him with great liberality and munificence, and he there painted some of his finest works. Benedetto died at Mantua in 1670. The following paintings are by him :
Dresden. Gallery. Noah going into the Axk, Florence. Vffizi. His own Portrait. ,1 „ Noah going into the Ark. „ „ Animals. Genoa. .S. Luca. The Nativity. ,, SS.Annunziata. Aiotatioa of the Magi. „ Ducal Pal. Jacob's Journey. „ Briynole Pal. Abraham's Journey. I, „ Entry of Animals into the Ark. Durazzo Pal. Hagar and Ishmael. A Concert. Elephants in an Amphitheatre. Diogenes and a man. Roman Gladiators. A Caravan. Melchizedek and Abraham. The Dealers driven from the Temple. Animals and Utensils. Animals in a Landscape. Noah going into the Ark. Noah in the Ark. Madrid. Gallery. Mimich. Pinakothtk. Palis. Louvre. TetTshrg. Hermitage.
Vienna. Gallery.
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