Giovanni Marini Paintings

Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis, often mistakenly referred to as Giovanni Marini, was an Italian Renaissance painter, not to be confused with the Baroque poet Giovanni Battista Marino. Born in 1569 in Milan, he was part of a family of artists; his brothers Evangelista and Siro were also painters. Ambrogio is best known for his collaboration with Leonardo da Vinci on the painting 'Portrait of a Musician,' although the exact nature of their collaboration remains a topic of scholarly debate.

De Predis was active in Milan and worked under the Sforza, the ruling family of the Duchy of Milan. He was particularly known for his fine miniatures, portrait paintings, and his work in the Ambrosiana library. His style was influenced by the Lombard school and he was also influenced by the works of Leonardo during the latter's time in Milan.

Despite the confusion about his name, Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis played a significant role in the Milanese art scene of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. His work is characterized by careful attention to detail, vivid colors, and a delicate rendering of human features. Not much is known about his training, but his works suggest that he was well-versed in the techniques and styles of his time.

De Predis' death is recorded as being in 1625, although this is likely a confusion with another artist, as Ambrogio was born in 1569 and would have been notably long-lived for that period if this were accurate. It is more likely that he passed away at the end of the 16th century or early 17th century. Sadly, like many artists of his era, his legacy has been overshadowed by the more famous figures he interacted with, such as Leonardo da Vinci, and a significant portion of his own work has been lost or remains unidentified.