About the Artist

Jacopo Bassano (c. 1517 Bassano-1592 Bassano), whose actual name was Giacomo da Ponte, was one of the outstanding artists of the late Renaissance. Bassano was born into a family of painter. In 1540 he settled in his native city, where he operated his own workshop. He was elected as a councilor and consul in 1549. Bassano was influenced by Titian, Lorenzo Lotto, Tintoretto and Mannerist painters among others. He developed a popular manner of painting, but at the same time, borrowed artistic methods used in more serious art. His paintings display extraordinary luminosity, great exactness of detail and simple narrative elements. Works by the artist include The Beheading of John the Baptist, c. 1550, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen; Landscape with the Parable of the Sower, 1560-1570, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid; and The Earthly Paradise, c. 1573, Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Rome.