Background
He was the youngest son of Bernardo Castello, who died when Valerio was six years old.
He was the youngest son of Bernardo Castello, who died when Valerio was six years old.
His art drew inspiration from a wide range of sources. He painted on canvas and fresco. While it had been the original intention for him to study a literate profession, he showed an affinity to drawing.
This was noted by his patrons, who arranged his apprenticeship with Domenico Fiasella.
Later he studied with Giovanni Andrea de’ Ferrari. To seek new inspiration, he travelled to Milan and then to Parma, probably between 1640 and 1645.
In Milan he admired the work of Camillo Proccacini. From there, he traveled to Parma.
He excelled in painting battle-scenes.
He was also quite prolific within Genoa during his short life. He painted the Rape of the Sabines, now in the Palazzo Brignole, Genoa, and decorated the cupola of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato in the same city. Foreign the house of Francesco Maria Balbi, he collaborated with the quadraturista from Bologna, Andrea Sghizzi to fresco the palace.
Castello influenced the work of young Domenico Piola.
He also admired the work of Antony van Dyck, who had spent a long time in Genoa and whose paintings could be seen all over the city. Among his pupils were Bartolomeo Biscaino, Giovanni Paolo Cervetto, and Stefano Magnasco (the father of Alessandro).