Background
After the death of his father, he returned to Ferrara.
After the death of his father, he returned to Ferrara.
He is also known as Costanzo or Costanza Cattanio. He initially trained with Scarsellino in Ferrara, then spent some time in Bologna, where he was first a pupil of Ippolito Scarsellino, and then may have worked under Reni. He is described as prone to carrying a sword, hunting, and brawls.
After injuring a soldier, Cattaneo was forced to seek refuge to a monastery (San Francesco) where he was employed, in painting frescoes.
One source says he excelled in painting scenes of soldiers and ruffians in combat. In 1654, he traveled briefly to Rome in the patronage of Cardinal Carlo Pio di Savoia (1622-1689).
He painted a Saint Matthew destroys the idols for the church of Santo Spirito. A Prayer in the garden of Gesthemane for the chorus of the church of San Benedetto.
A Saint Louis rejecting the Ducal crown initially for the Gesu, later in the church San Stefano.
He painted an Annunciation for the church of Santo Spirito and Christ praying on the Mount for the church of San Benedetto.
He was so quarrelsome and turbulent a disposition that he passed the greater portion of his life in exile or in disgrace.
