Lorenzo de' Ferrari

Lorenzo de' Ferrari (1680-1738) holds a distinguished position within the development of the Genoese Baroque. Primarily active in his native city, De' Ferrari specialized in complex, large-scale decorative schemes, often executing intricate fresco cycles that established him as a leading decorative painter of the early eighteenth century. His surviving corpus of works, dominated by preparatory drawings and design studies, underscores a commitment to vigorous composition and dynamic figural groupings characteristic of the period.

De' Ferrari's mastery of the disegno tradition is evident in the remarkable complexity of his studies, many of which utilize both sides of the sheet for entirely different compositional solutions. This practical efficiency, using the verso for concepts ranging from mythological scenes like Aurora and Cephalus or Daphne Pursued by Apollo to swift architectural notations, hints at an artist relentlessly working through spatial and narrative problems. Such studies illuminate the transition from initial concept to monumental finished work.

His design capabilities were particularly suited to the dramatic requirements of ceiling painting, demanding skillful manipulation of perspective (or quadratura). Works such as Ceiling Design with the Glorification of the Name of Jesus and the demanding composition of The Assumption of the Virgin showcase his ability to integrate architecture and figures seamlessly, dissolving the structural limitations of the ceiling plane to create an illusion of infinite space. Simultaneously, he applied this dramatic flair to intense religious narrative, exemplified by the kinetic energy found in Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple.

Scholars continue to study these museum-quality preparatory sheets, now held in major international collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. While many of his major commissions remain in situ across Genoa, the detail and dynamism captured in these drawings, such as Study of Justice Dispensing Rewards to the Arts, are frequently made available as high-quality prints for broader art historical analysis. The lasting significance of Lorenzo de' Ferrari paintings and drawings rests in their detailed documentation of a highly ambitious and sophisticated phase of the Italian Baroque.