Giovanni Battista Castello

Giovanni Battista Castello was one of the most renowned miniaturists of his time. In the 1580s, he was commissioned to illuminate the choir books of El Escorial by King Philip II of Spain. Castello's teacher, Luca Cambiaso, was working in Spain in 1584 and probably played a part in recommending Castello for this prestigious project.

Castello was back in Genoa by 1588 where he continued to produce highly finished religious scenes on parchment and vellum. The majority of his religious images were executed for the purpose of private devotion and it is highly likely that the present work functioned as a personal, image of devotion.