Romulo Cincinnato was an Italian painter and draughtsman of the Renaissance period, born in 1502 in Rome, Italy. He was active during a time when Rome was re-establishing its significance as a center for artistic innovation following the High Renaissance, a period that had seen the likes of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Cincinnato's career unfolded primarily in Rome, where he was influenced by the Mannerist style, which was characterized by artificiality, grace, and elegance as opposed to the balanced and harmonious compositions of the High Renaissance. This style came into being as artists sought to surpass the achievements of their renowned predecessors. Cincinnato's work, therefore, exhibited the typical Mannerist features: elongated figures, unusual complex poses, and often a sense of restlessness.
While not as famous as some of his contemporaries, Cincinnato made contributions to the Roman and Italian art scenes. He was noted for his work in the Vatican under Pope Pius IV, and he contributed to the frescoes in the Belvedere Courtyard. Additionally, he was involved in the decoration of the Gregorian Chapel in the Vatican, working alongside other notable painters of the time.
Cincinnato's later life is less documented, but it is known that he continued to work and maintain relevance in the Roman art community until his death in 1593. Despite his presence in some significant projects, Cincinnato's legacy does not compare with the giants of the Renaissance, and as a result, he remains a lesser-known figure. His works are primarily studied by specialists interested in the nuances of Mannerist art and the evolution of style between the High Renaissance and the Baroque period that followed.