Agostino Tassi was born in 1578 in Perugia, Umbria, Italy. Because Agostino aspired to nobility he modified the details of his early life. Though he was born in Perugia he claimed to have been born in Rome. His family name was Buonamici, but Agostino adopted the surname Tassi to give substance to his story that he was adopted by the Marchese Tassi. He was actually the son of a furrier named Domenico.
Little is known of his artistic education, which probably included contact with Paul Bril and Giulio Parigi.
Tassi may have worked for a time in Livorno, as well as in Florence. Among his followers or pupils in Livorno is thought to be Pietro Ciafferi. During his sojourn in Florence, it was believed that he was made a galley slave in the Grand Duke's convict galleys for some unspecified crime. However, he was allowed to move about freely on the ship instead of pulling on an oar. More importantly, he was able to paint and draw on the galley and was thus provided with ample material from which to execute his seascapes and images of ports, ships, and fishing scenes.
Regarding his artistic formation, Tassi is said to have been a pupil of Paul Bril, from whom he derived some of his images of the sea. He later worked in Rome with Orazio Gentileschi, who painted figures, after being commissioned by Pope Paul V. In 1612, Tassi was convicted of raping Artemisia Gentileschi, Orazio Gentileschi's daughter and a talented painter. Tassi originally denied the accusation. He afterward claimed that he had visited her house in order to safeguard her honor. Tassi had already run afoul of the law and had earlier been accused of raping both his sister-in-law and one of his wives. His wife had been missing for a time, and it was believed that Tassi had hired bandits to kill her.
In the ensuing 7-month rape trial, it was discovered that Tassi had planned to murder his wife, had committed incest with his sister-in-law and planned to steal some of Orazio’s paintings. At the end of the trial, Tassi was imprisoned for two years. His verdict was later annulled and he was at liberty in 1613. Considered a master of perspective and a good painter of illusionistic architectural decoration, Tassi painted in several Roman palaces including the Quirinale, the Rospigliosi and the Doria Pamphili.
In Rome, Tassi also served as the master from April 1625 of French painter Claude Lorrain. Tassi hired Lorrain to grind his colors and to do all of the household work. Though better known as a painter of frescoes, Tassi also painted some canvases, which included "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba before Solomon" and "Entry of Taddeo Barberini from the Porta del Popolo". created in 1632. His depictions of night scenes had a certain influence on the Dutch Leonaert Bramer. The artist died in 1644 in Rome.
The Coral Fishers
The Capture of Troy
Simulated Loggia Architecture with Landscape Views
View of the Acqua Acetosa, Rome
Frieze with Ambassadors and Spectators (detail)
Landscape with a Scene of Witchcraft
Festivities on the Coast (Calendimaggio)
Competition on the Capitoline Hill
Imaginary Landscape with Temple of Sibyl at Tivoli
A Shipyard
Naufragio Della Flotta Di Enea
Capriccio with the Palazzo Dei Conservatori
River Landscape
The Embarkation of a Queen
His wife was missing, presumed dead, and everyone believed that he had hired bandits to kill her.
