Domenico Piola

He was the leading artist in Genoa in the second half of the 17th century, working on ceiling frescoes for many Genoese churches and palaces and canvas paintings for private collectors.

[1] Piola absorbed Castiglione's work as is visible in The Communion of Clare of Montefalco (London, British Museum) and his paintings in the Oratory of St John the Baptist at Spotorno.

Correggio’s style encouraged Piola's own predilection for diagonal movement, bright colours and strongly foreshortened figures.

In 1684 Piola began to fresco the choir of San Leonardo and two rooms in the Villa Gropallo at Zerbino; all work was interrupted in this year after a French bombardment destroyed much of Genoa, including Domenico's house and studio.

[2] Other members of the Piola family who were artists included Domenico's brother, Giovanni Andrea and his three sons Paolo Gerolamo, Anton Maria, and Giovanni Battista; his two sons-in-law, Gregorio de’ Ferrari (his most distinguished pupil and married to his daughter Margherita Piola) and Domenico Parodi; and his brother-in-law Stefano Camogli.

Generations of artists, down to the 20th century, descended from the line of Piola-De Ferrari, including Giovanni Maria De Simoni, who died in 1913 in the original residence of Domenico's family.