GIOVANNI BENEDETTO

CASTIGLIONE (1616–1670)  , called in Italy Il Grechetto, and in France Le Benedette, Italian painter of the Genoese school, was born in Genoa, and studied for some time under Vandyck . He painted portraits, historical pieces and landscapes, but chiefly excelled in fairs, markets and rural scenes with animals . Noah and the animals entering the Ark was a favourite subject of his . His paintings are to be found in Rome, Venice, Naples, Florence, and more especially Genoa and Mantua . He also executed a' number of etchings, which are spirited, free and full of taste; " Diogenes searching for a Man " is one of the principal of these . The etchings are remarkable for light and shade, and have even earned for Castiglione the name of " a second Rembrandt." The Presepio (Nativity of Jesus) in the church of San Luca, Genoa, ranks among his most celebrated paintings, and the Louvre contains eight characteristic examples . In his closing years he lived in Mantua, painting for the court; here he received his name of " Grechetto," from the classic air of his pastorals, and here he died of gout in 167o . His brother Salvatore and his son Francesco excelled in the same subjects; and it is thought that many paintings which are ascribed to Benedetto are only copies after him, or perhaps originals by his son or brother .