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Balestra Antonio

 

Antonio Balestra     Pages: 1


(August 12, 1666 - April 21, 1740) was an Italian painter of the Rococo period.

Born in Verona, he first apprenticed there with Giovanni Zeffio. By 1690 he moved to Venice, where he worked for three years in Venice under Antonio Bellucci, then moved to Bologna and then to paint in Carlo Maratta's workshop in Rome. In 1694, he won a prize from the Accademia di San Luca. He later painted both in Verona and Venice; although his influence was stronger in the mainland. His pupils in Verona were Pietro Rotari and Giambettino Cignaroli (1706-1770). In Venice, he painted for the churches of the Gesuiti & San Zaccaria, and the Scuola della Carita. Pietro Longhi briefly worked under Balestra. In Venice, other pupils or painters he influenced, included Mariotti, Giuseppe Nogari, Mattia Bortoloni (1695-1750) and Angelo Trevisani. Also he influenced a young Giambattista Pittoni.

Theseus Discovering his Father's Sword