Francesco Fontebasso Venice 1707 - 1769

Francesco Fontebasso was one of the most prolific and well known followers of Sebastiano Ricci, with whom he had his earliest training, and also of Giambattista Tiepolo.  The influence that these artists had on Fontebasso is evident in the present painting's bright, saturated palette and in areas of freely applied paint.  The influence that the tenebrism of the Bolognese School had on Fontebasso's style is also apparent in the way that he articulates the Madonna, the Angel Gabriel, and the chair in the foreground of the composition, with dramatic contrasts of light and shade. 

Fontebasso was a renowned fresco painter, and received many important commissions from both within Italy and abroad.  Indeed, from 1761 - 62, he worked in St. Petersburg for Catherine II, Empress of Russia.  Before he left for St. Petersburg, in 1755, he became a founder-member of the Accademia Veneziana, of which he was appointed president in 1768.