Mattia PretiItalien, 1613–1699Saint Paul the Hermit
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After training in Rome in the 1630s and 1640s, Preti went to Naples where he continued working in a mode inspired by the work of Caravaggio. In this painting, dramatic lighting and intense naturalism depict the intersection of the heavenly and earthly realms. According to Catholic tradition, Saint Paul the Hermit fled into the desert to escape persecution from the Romans in the third century, and is revered as the first of many hermit saints. A raven brought Saint Paul a half a loaf of bread daily, which enabled him to survive to the age of 113 years. Preti depicted the saint looking heavenward in appreciation and awe of his heavenly provider.
Cleveland Museum of Art
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- 1969.109
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- Bild: Cleveland Museum of Art — Museum open access
Derweil im Leben von Mattia Preti
Das ganze Leben1653–1661
A relationship of mutual influence with the young Luca Giordano
In Naples he developed a mutually influential relationship with the younger Luca Giordano; together they contributed to the development of the Neapolitan school of painting in the second half of the century. For the young Neapolitan artist, Preti acted as a bridge between the early naturalism of the first half of the century and the fully-fledged Baroque style.
1660
Commissioned to decorate the vault of St John’s Co-Cathedral
In 1660 he was commissioned to decorate the vault of St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, the church of the Order of Malta.
15 September 1660
His admission as a Knight of Grace is recorded by the Order’s chancery
Preti’s application for the rank of Knight of Grace was accepted by the reigning Pope, Alexander VII, and his admission was recorded by the Chancery of the Order of Malta on 15 September 1660.
1660–1661
Back in Rome: Valmontone and Sant’Andrea
By around 1660 he was no longer based permanently in Naples, and was initially in Rome, where he succeeded Pier Francesco Mola to complete the fresco cycle of the Elements of the Air at the Villa Pamphilij in Valmontone and made improvements to his Stories of the Saint at Sant’Andrea della Valle, painted during his earlier years in Rome. Meanwhile, in Naples, he had established a strong professional relationship with Don Antonio Ruffo, a wealthy Sicilian patron who invited him to fresco Messina Cathedral.
1661–1699
Malta: work for the island and for all of Europe
From 1661 he worked in Malta: besides the cathedral decoration he realised several paintings on the island for private patrons and parish churches, and his increased reputation brought him commissions from all over Europe. His major works in Malta include the “Conversion of Saint Paul” in St Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina, commissioned by the Knights Hospitaller, and the “Madonna and Child with Saints John the Baptist and Anthony Abbot” in the chapel of Verdala Palace in Siġġiewi.
