Cosimo Rosselli Paintings

Cosimo Rosselli was an Italian painter of the Quattrocento (15th century), part of the Florentine school. He was born in Florence in 1439 and was initially trained by Neri di Bicci, an average painter of the time, which perhaps influenced the early part of Rosselli’s career where his work did not particularly stand out. However, Rosselli later developed a more personal and effective style which can be seen in his later works.

Rosselli is best known for his contributions to the Sistine Chapel, where he painted alongside other renowned artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Pietro Perugino. He was responsible for several frescoes, including the 'Sermon on the Mount', the 'Last Supper', and the 'Passage of the Red Sea', which are notable for their vibrant color and clear narrative structure.

His style is characterized by bright color palettes and an attention to detailed landscapes and backgrounds, which sometimes overshadowed the human figures in his paintings. This was seen as a limitation by some of his contemporaries and later critics who believed that it made his figures look less convincing and somewhat out of place.

Despite these criticisms, Rosselli enjoyed a successful career and received numerous commissions from important patrons, including members of the Medici family. He was also an influential teacher, with one of his most notable pupils being Fra Bartolomeo, who would go on to become a significant figure in the High Renaissance.

Rosselli’s work was an important bridge between the early Renaissance and the High Renaissance, although he is not as well remembered as some of his contemporaries. He died in 1507 in Florence, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the transition in style and technique during one of the most vibrant periods in the history of art.