Preti was born in Taverna, Calabria, Italy, on February 24, 1613, to a large family, not rich in possessions or material goods but of "moral and intellectual qualities." His mother, Innocenza Schipani, belonged to one of the fourteen most noble families of Taverna. He had a brother, Gregorio, who was a painter.
At the young age of 17, Mattia Preti travelled to Rome to meet his brother Gregorio. In Rome he got acquainted with the artworks of Caravaggio who had a strong impact on his technique.
In Rome Preti completed the large-scale fresco cycles in Sant’Andrea della Valle and San Carlo ai Catinari. From 1640 to 1646 he mainly lived in Venice, returning to Rome in 1641-1642.
Between 1653 and 1660 he worked in Naples where he was influenced by the main contemporary artists working in that city, including Luca Giordano. He produced frescoes for the church of San Biago at Modena (1653-1656). Following the catastrophic plague of 1656, he was commisioned with various Ex-Votos. He produced large frescos painted on the seven city gates of the city. Besides, he made the two versions of the Prodigal Son (1657-1958) at Capodimonte and Palazzo Reale. Preti’s seven years spent in Naples were highly productive and had a tremendous effect on the development of neapolitan art.
Starting from 1659 Preti spent most of the remainder of his life in the headquarters of the Order of St. John, Malta. There he executed numerous murals for Valletta cathedral and other churches across the island. He participated in the fresco decoration of the Palazzo Pamphilj in Valmontone (1660-1661). On this project, he worked along with Pier Francesco Mola, Gaspar Dughet, Giovanni Battista Tassi (il Cortonese), Francesco Cozza and Guglielmo Cortese. The artist also improved the interior of St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, creating a huge series of paintings on the life and martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (1661-1666). Preti's continued working into old age, amongst the few documented works was the S. Bernardino Preaching in 1674, which is now in the church of S. Domenico, Siena.
Mattia Preti is remembered as a great baroque artist. His works decorate various altars in churches around Malta. The martyrdom of St Lawrence, an altar piece at the Vittoriosa parish church, is just one example of his great achievements.
Many paintings of Preti are now in parish churches, as well as in private and public collections, including important collections in Naples, Valletta, and in his hometown of Taverna. His high reputation led to an expanded circle of patrons, and he was able to receive commissions from all over Europe.
A unique collection of his works of art is now exhibited at the National Museum of Fine Arts Valletta.
The Concert
The Adoration of the Shepherds
The Martyrdom of Saint Gennaro
Erminia, Princess of Antiochia
Saint John the Baptist Preaching
Saint John Reproaching Herod
Aeneas, Anchises and Ascanius Fleeing Troy
Adoration of the Shepherds
Queen Tomyris Receiving the Head of Cyrus, King of Persia
The Liberation of Saint Peter
Tribute Money
Saint Veronica with the Veil
Sophonisba Receiving the Goblet
David Playing the Harp before Saul
A Mother Entrusting Her Sons to Christ
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
The Crucifixion of Saint Andrew
Marriage at Cana
Christ in the House of Simon
Diogenes with his Lantern, in search of an Honest Man
Pilate Washing His Hands
Christ in Glory
The Martyrdom of Saint Peter
Feast of Herod
The Game of Draughts
The Concert
The Roman Empress Faustina Visiting Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Prison
Saint Sebastian
Absalom's Feast
Release of Saint Peter from Prison
The Pardon of Saint John Chysostom
The Raising of Lazarus
