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Historical Artist - Daniele da Volterra (1509 - 1566)
Painter and sculptor Daniele Ricciarelli was born in Volterra, Italy, thus acquiring his more
popular name, Daniele da Volterra. It is assumed that he trained in Siena under Sodoma before
moving to Rome in 1565. Here, he befriended Michelangelo who helped him increase his commissions
and also created preparatory drawings for Daniele’s work. His most powerful work is the
fresco of the Deposition, located in the Cappella Orsini in Saint Trinita dei Monti. This work
was highly admired and copied by many great artists who studied in Rome, including Domenichino
and Rubens. Daniele is also recognized for his bust of mentor Michelangelo that was created from
the master’s death mask. In addition, he was forced by the Counter-Reformation to paint
draperies over Michelangelo’s nude figures in the Last Judgement. Daniele's best-known
painting is the Descent from the Cross in the Trinità dei Monti (circa 1545), after
drawings by Michelangelo; by an excess of praise this work was at one time grouped with
Raphael's Transfiguration and the Last Communion of St. Jerome by Domenichino as the most famous
pictures in Rome. Daniele's two-sided painting of David killing Goliath (c. 1555) in the Louvre
too seems to have been based on Michelangelo's designs; for a long time it was attributed to
him.Other notable works include the Massacre of the Innocents (1557) in the Uffizi Gallery,
Florence, a portrait he drew of Michelangelo and a bust he made from Michelangelo's death mask.
A well-known sculpture is the Cleopatra in the Belvedere. From France Daniele received the
commission to make a bronze equestrian statue of Henry II, but he finished only the horse; this
was later used for a statue of Louis XIII at the Place Royale and melted down during the French
Revolution.
Contemporary Italian Artists
Art Galleries in Italy
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