Background
Baldassare Peruzzi was born at Ancajano, in the diocese of Volterra, and passed his early life at Siena, where his father resided.
Baldassare Peruzzi was born at Ancajano, in the diocese of Volterra, and passed his early life at Siena, where his father resided.
The young Peruzzi went to Rome and there studied architecture and painting. In the latter he was at first a follower of Perugino.
The choir frescoes in Sant' Onofrio on the Janiculan Hill, usually attributed to Pinturicchio, are by his hand.
It is best known for the frescoes painted there by Raphael and his pupils to illustrate the stories of Psyche and Galatea.
One of the loggie has frescoes by Peruzzi's own hand-the story of Medusa.
On account of his success Peruzzi was appointed by Leo X in 1520 architect to St Peter's at a salary of 250 scudi; his design for its completion was not, however, carried out.
Soon afterwards he returned to Rome, where he made designs for a palace for the Orsini family, and built the palaces Massimi and Vidoni, as well as others in tfie south of Italy.
He died in 1536, and was buried by the side of Raphael in the Pantheon. Peruzzi was an eager student of mathematics and was also a fair classical scholar.
Like many of the great artists of his time, he was remarkable for the varied extent of his knowledge and skill.
A most able architect, a fair painter, and a scientific engineer, he also practised minor arts, such as stucco-work in relief, sgraffito, and the decorative painted arabesques which the influence of Raphael did so much to bring into use.
His best existing works in fresco are in the Castel di Belcaro and the church of Fontegiusta in Siena.