-
Birth
He was born in the small town of Taverna in Calabria, Preti was sometimes called Il Cavalier Calabrese (the Knight of Calabria). His early apprenticeship is said to have been with the "Caravaggist" Giovanni Battista Caracciolo, which may account for his lifelong interest in the style of Caravaggio. -
Roman Period
In 1630 he moved to Rome, where he lived in the early years with his brother Gregory, who was also a painter. He knew the techniques of Caravaggio and his followers, which was strongly influenced. To this period belong the frescoes of St. John Calibita, San Carlo in Catinari and Sant'Andrea della Valle in Rome. -
Preti Paint
"Flight of Aeneas" from Troy, about 1630 - National Gallery of Ancient Art, Rome -
Naples Period
In 1653 he moved to Naples and was under the influence of another great painter of the period: Luca Giordano. In Naples Preti was influential in developing the Neapolitan school of painting. -
Preti Paint
Schizzo per La Peste, Galleria Nazionale di Capodimonte -
Naples Period
Between 1657 and 1659 frescoed the gates of the city during the plague of these works remains today only the port of San Gennaro. Also on the roof of San Pietro a Majella painted the life of St. Peter Celestine and St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Dating back to his Neapolitan period, several other works were carried out by the priests. There was in fact the return of the prodigal son to the royal palace and other paintings preserved in some churches in Naples. -
Preti Paint
San Sebastiano, 1657 - National Gallery of Capodimonte, Naples -
Malta Period
In 1661 the artist moved to Malta, called by the Grand Master of the Order of Malta Raphael Cotoner. The island also to a large part of the decoration of the Co-Cathedral of St. John in Valletta on behalf of the Knights Hospitallers, and other works for various churches in Malta. According to the art historian Antonio Sergi, Mattia Preti was made in Malta a total of 400 works, including paintings and frescoes -
Death
He died in 1699 in Valletta.
