25 Facts About Bernardo Bitti

Democrito Bernardo Bitti was an Italian Jesuit priest and painter.

Bernardo Bitti introduced Mannerism to Peru, where he went on a Jesuit mission after having studied in Rome.

On his way to Peru, Bitti traveled through Spain, where he became influenced by Sevillian painting, especially that of Luis de Morales.

Bernardo Bitti arrived in Peru in 1575 and started painting for churches first in Lima and from 1583 in Cusco.

Bernardo Bitti's mobile lifestyle was a testament to his popularity with the Jesuits, but it led to Bitti's being unable to set up a workshop or have apprentices.

Bernardo Bitti is regarded as the founder of the Cusco School of painting.

Democrito Bernardo Bitti was born in Camerino, Italy in 1548.

Bernardo Bitti became a painter at an early age and as a teenager he moved to Rome to study painting for a period of five years.

At the age of 20, in 1568, Bernardo Bitti became a Jesuit and relocated to the novitiate of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, in Rome, where he stayed until 1573.

Bernardo Bitti might have painted some works there, but none survive.

Bernardo Bitti was identified as the best one available; his Jesuit background would make him the ideal painter of altarpieces.

The Jesuit party arrived in Peru in 1575, where Bernardo Bitti introduced Mannerism to the country.

Bernardo Bitti became a very sought after artist because of the novelty of his style in the new continent.

In 1583, Bernardo Bitti moved to Cusco, where he stayed until the end of 1584.

Later in his career, Bernardo Bitti traveled through Spanish America including Potosi, Arequipa, Juli, Acora, La Paz, Sucre, and Chucuito.

Bernardo Bitti collaborated with other artists, including his fellow Jesuit Pedro de Vargas, in art projects all over the Peru.

Bernardo Bitti was painting for a dual audience of European-born immigrants and newly converted natives.

Bernardo Bitti was under the constraint of carefully crafting his works to conform with the requirements of the post Council of Trent era of Counter-Reformation.

Bernardo Bitti's work is representative of Mannerism, characterized by elongated figures with slender limbs and delicate fingers in posing gracefully in condensed compositions.

Bernardo Bitti's Mannerism "lacked the confusion, erudition, and sometimes erotic sway" that was typical of the style in his native Italy.

Bernardo Bitti painted in tempera, "with the delicacy of the followers of Michelangelo and Raphael".

Bernardo Bitti painted the persons of the Trinity as clearly distinct: God the Father and Son are of different ages, and the Holy Spirit takes the form of a dove.

Bernardo Bitti returned to Lima and continued to work there until his death in 1610.

At the time of his death, Bernardo Bitti was an esteemed artist.

Bernardo Bitti is considered the founder of the Cusco School of painting.