Bernardino Capitelli

Bernardino Capitelli (Siena, 1589 - 1639) was an Italian painter and engraver of the Baroque period, famous for its etchings.

He was born in Siena. He became a pupil of Alessandro Casolani, and then of Rutilio Manetti, and between the years 1622 and 1637 was active in both at Rome and at Siena. Among his etchings are a Portrait of Alessandro Casolani, a St. Anthony of Padua, a Marriage of St. Catharine after Correggio, a nocturnal Repose in Egypt after Rutilio Manetti, a Lot and his Daughters after Manetti. He also made a Ceres drinking in the Cottage of the old and a set of twelve plates of the Life of St. Bernard of Siena. He also etched a set of friezes and basso-relievi, among them, the Aldobrandini Marriage from an antique painting.
Capitelli overcame his shortcomings as a draughtsman and achieved the unique position of virtually the only tenebrist etcher in Italy. The use of abrupt contrasts of light and dark is characteristic of Capitelli's work.

According to Patrizia Bonaccorso's book in the catalog of the exhibition at the Civic Museum of Siena in 1985, Capitelli was born in 1590, citing the act of death in which it is said he was 50 years old.

He first became a pupil of Alessandro Casolani and later Rutilio Manetti, and between 1622 and 1637 he was active both in Rome and Siena.

Among his engravings are a Portrait of Alessandro Casolani, a Sant'Antonio da Padova (1637), a Correggio Corinthian Wedding of Santa Caterina, an Rutilio Manetti-style Night Rest in Egypt, and a Lot and his Manetti-style sisters .

He also decorated a "Drinking Cerere in the Old House" and a series of twelve dishes of "S. Bernardino da Siena's Life". He also carved a series of friezes and bas-reliefs, including the Aldobrandini wedding from an ancient painting.

Capitelli exceeded his designer limits and gained a unique position as a Tenebris engraver in Italy. The use of strong contrasts between light and dark is a characteristic of Capitelli's work.
http://hisour.com/artist/bernardino-capitelli/