Taddeo Zuccaro Art

Taddeo Zuccaro (1529 – 1566) was born near Urbino, in Sant' Angelo in Vado. He was the son of an almost unknown painter called Ottaviano Zuccari. His young brother Federico was a painter and an architect. Pompeo da Fano encouraged him as a young man. By age 14, Zuccari moved to Rome, and he succeeded at an early age in gaining knowledge of painting and in finding patrons to employ him. Zuccaro became a pupil of Daniele da Parma when he was 17. His master engaged him to assist in painting some frescoes in a chapel at Vitto on the borders of the Abruzzi, near Sora. In 1548, Zuccari returned to Rome and began his career as a fresco painter. He executed a series of scenes in monochrome. From that time his success was assured, and he was largely employed by the della Rovere duke of Urbino, by the popes Julius III and Paul IV, and by other rich patrons. In 1556, he painted frescoed Scenes of the Passion of Santa Maria della Consolazione in the "Cappella Mattei." He worked alongside Prospero Fontana in decorating the Villa Giulia. A historical series in quadro reportati were his best frescoes. He painted them for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese on the ceiling and walls of Villa Farnese at Caprarola. Zuccari also designed many rich decorations in stucco relief after the style of Giulio Romano and other pupils of Raphael. In his style, Zuccaro also displayed a Mannerist taste of Michelangelo for sculpted physicality. Many collectors like to stock ready to hang framed Taddeo Zuccaro art because they are in great demand.