Background
Jacopo Bassano was born approximately in 1510 in Bassano del Grappa, near Venice, Republic of Venice (present-day Bassano del Grappa, Italy). He was a son of Francesco Bassano the Elder, a successful painter, who owned a family workshop.
Jacopo Bassano was born approximately in 1510 in Bassano del Grappa, near Venice, Republic of Venice (present-day Bassano del Grappa, Italy). He was a son of Francesco Bassano the Elder, a successful painter, who owned a family workshop.
Bassano first studied with his father, Francesco Bassano the Elder, and then continued his studies in Venice. There, he was influenced by Titian and Lorenzo Lotto. But later, Jacopo evolved a more turbulent mannerist style.
Jacopo's subjects were generally peasants and villagers, cattle and landscapes, with some portraits and historical designs. His figures are well designed and his animals and landscapes have an agreeable air of simple nature. His compositions, though they have not much eloquence or grandeur, have abundance of force and truth. The local colours are well observed, the flesh tints are fresh and brilliant, and his chiaroscuro and perspective are unexceptionable.
In his early years, Jacopo worked in his father's workshop. In 1540, after a period of studies in Venice, the painter came back in his native Bassano del Grappa, where, after the death of his father, he became a head of his family workshop. Also, it was approximately about 1540, that Jacopo was greatly influenced by the elegance of the Florentine and Roman Mannerists. He especially admired the graceful attenuation of Parmigianino’s figures, as can be seen in his "Adoration of the Shepherds".
After 1560, Jacopo painted a large number of works, such as the "Madonna with SS. Roch and Sebastian" and "The Adoration of the Magi", characterized by an unearthly pale light, colours and nervous, attenuated figures in affectedly sophisticated poses. In 1565-1570, the painter produced his first paintings of rural life. At that time, Bassano fully concentrated on landscape and genre subjects. "Pastoral" is one of his brightest examples of that period.
After the painter's death in 1592, his sons took over the management of his workshop.
Jacopo Bassano gained prominence as one of the first Italian painters, who depicted animals, farmhouses and landscapes. His most notable works include "The Supper at Emmaus" (1538), "Flight into Egypt" (1544), "Christ in the House of Mary and Martha" and "The Baptism of Christ" (1590).
Also, what made Jacopo particularly unique amongst his fellow Renaissance artists, was his ability to incorporate diverse artistic influences, including Dürer, Parmigianino, Tintoretto and Raphael, among many others, into his work.
Adoration of the Shepherds
The Sacrifice of Noah
The Baptism of Christ
The Purification of the Temple
Pastoral Scene
Three Martyr Saints
The Way to Calvary
The Last Supper
Portrait of a Man
The Miraculous Draught of Fishes
Saint Jerome
The Mocking of Christ
Adoration of the Shepherds
The Forge of Vulcan
The Good Samaritan
Christ Among the Doctors
The Journey of Jacob
Diana and Actaeon
Portrait of a Cardinal
Lazarus and the Rich Man
Banquet Scene
The Road to Calvary
The Adoration of the Magi
Mater Dolorosa
Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist
Madonna and Child with Saints
Expulsion of the Merchants from the Temple
The Adoration of the Kings
The Annunciation to the Shepherds
Israelis Drinking the Miraculous Water
The Good Samaritan
Christ Crowned with Thorns
The Crucifixion
Christ Healing the Lame Man
The Entry of the Animals into Noah’s Ark
Winter
Last Supper at Emmaus
The Flight into Egypt
Christ in the House of Mary and Martha
Jacopo took the name of the village, where he was born, as his surname.
Jacopo married Elisabetta Merzari in 1546. Their marriage produced four sons — Leandro Bassano, Francesco Bassano the Younger, Giovanni Battista da Ponte and Girolamo da Ponte, all painters.
