Felice Ficherelli

Felice Ficherelli was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Tuscany. He was nicknamed "Felice Riposo" for his calm and quiet demeanour.

Biography

He was born in San Gimignano. Nothing is known of his parents. He was sent to Florence at a very early age, and placed under the protection of Count Alberto d'Ottavio Bardi di Vernio, an aide to Cardinal Carlo de' [Medici |Carlo de Medici]. After displaying some artistic talent, he was made an apprentice in the workshops of Jacopo da Empoli, where he made copies of works by the Renaissance art|Renaissance] masters.
In 1629, he enrolled at the Accademia dell'Arte del Disegno. Count Bardi died in 1632 but, thanks to a provision in Bardi's will, he was able to remain at the Count's home in return for providing one large painting per year. Many of his works are still in the possession of the Bardi family.
During the 1650s, he created numerous religious works, mostly featuring the Mary, [mother of Jesus|Madonna], at the chapel in the Basilica of Santo Spirito, the, the San [Giovanni Battista, Livorno|Church of San Giovanni Battista], and the Florence Charterhouse, among others. Most of his other work is decorative in nature.
His most familiar work is Saint Praxedis, which exists in two versions. A copy of the later version appears to be signed by Johannes Vermeer and dated 1655, which would make it one of his earliest works. This has been the subject of much disagreement among art scholars.
Ficherelli died in Florence in 1660 and was interred at the. It was demolished in 1869 to widen the Lungarno.