Description
During the Renaissance, a distinct artistic school emerged in L’Aquila, firmly rooted in the cultural fabric of the Italian peninsula.
A key figure was Saturnino Gatti, a versatile artist who skilfully blended early Florentine influences with later Roman ones – especially from Antoniazzo Romano – enriched by local traditions. This fusion created a personal style, making him a leading interpreter of the Abruzzese Renaissance. Saturnino, author of the fresco cycle in San Panfilo at Tornimparte (L’Aquila), demonstrates in the large panel of the Madonna of the Rosary an extraordinary ability in characterising the faces of the figures. Meanwhile, a more intense spirituality is evident in the painting for the Town Hall chapel.
Another important figure was Cola dell’Amatrice, an innovative painter whose works show a deep knowledge of Renaissance masters and a highly personal stylistic exploration. In his experimental phase, he engaged with Saturnino’s art, developing a complex and original visual language.
