Antonio Gherardi
Antonio Gherardi (September 20 1638 - May 10 1702) was an Italian painter, architect, and sculptor (stuccoist) of the Baroque style, active mainly in and near Rome and his native city of Rieti.
He original name was Antonio Tatoti, when he moved to Rome (c. 1656) from Rieti, he changed his surname. His father died when he was merely 8 years old, and in 1656, Monsignor Bulgarino Bulgarini, Governor of Rieti, becomes his patron. Two years later he sponsored his travel to Rome, and introduces him to his future mentors, Pier Francesco Mola and also Pietro da Cortona. Under the large workshops organized by the latter, he developed skills in both painting and stucco decoration. In 1674, he joined the Accademia di San Luca. In 1698, the the Carmelite order Procurator General, Francisco Ximenes Medrano appointed Gherardi as the architect and painter of the chapel of Santa Teresa.
Among his works are
- The decoration of the dome of Santa Maria in Trivio
- Birth of the Virgin in the duomo of Gubbio
- Death of Blessed Francesco (1675, Chapel of the Blessed Francesco Solano in Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Rome).
- Education of the Virgin (c. 1675, 2nd chapel on left of Duomo of Poggio Mirteto).
- Holy family with young John the Baptist, (c. 1675, Duomo of Monterotondo).
- Crucifixion, (1674-86, Church of San Claudio, Rome, lost).
- Vision of S. Filippo Neri & S. Camillo de Lellis heals dying Crescenzi family member, (1677, sacristy, Santa Maria in Trivio).
- Stucco for main altar (1677, Santa Maria in Trivio).
- The miracle of Holy Shroud & Christ lying on Shroud with Donors from House of Savoy and Sts. Massimo & Maurizio, Blessed Amedeo, Margherita & Ludovica, (1680-1682, Altarpiece, church of Holy Shroud; payment 140 scudi).
- Saint Jerome penitent in desert, (1680, Avila chapel, Santa Maria in Trastevere painted to substitute for painting by Durante Alberti).
- Ecstasy of Saint Theresa (1698, Santa Maria in Traspontina, Rome).
- Immaculate Conception for church of Sant'Antonio al Monte, Rieti.
- Ephemeral funerary decorations for Alfonso di Portugal in S. Antonio dei Portuguese, also others to celebrate the extirpation of the Calvinism in France.
