Giovanni Quagliata

Who was Giovanni Quagliata?

Giovanni Quagliata was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He is more properly known in Italy as Giovan Battista Quagliata, one of the leading artists of the Messinesi painters of the 17th century, as described by Francesco Susinno in his book "The Lives of the Messinesi Painters" published in 1724. Giovanni was born in Messina, Italy. He was a pupil of Pietro da Cortona and enjoyed the patronage and friendship of the Spanish Viceroy of Sicily, Don Juan José of Austria. Giovanni's brother, Andrea Quagliata, was also an historical painter, but of lesser significance. Giovanni's works – paintings, frescoes and large canvases – were famously displayed in the galleries and churches of Messina, but due to earthquakes from Mount Etna and wartime bombings, few have survived to the present day.