Ippolito Scarsella, detto lo Scarsellino Italian, 1550-1620

Ippolito Scarsella, known as lo Scarsellino (Ferrara, Italy, 1550 – Ferrara, Italy, 1620) 

Born in Ferrara in 1550, he was the son of Sigismondo, a painter and architect also known as il Mondino. He married twice during his lifetime and had seven children, only two of whom survived to adulthood. 

 
Initially trained in his father's workshop, he moved to Bologna at the age of 17 to study the Carracci's style. Later, he relocated to Venice to further develop his skills under the guidance of Veronese and to study the works of Titian and Tintoretto. 

After his father's death, he travelled back to Ferrara in 1594 to supervise the completion of the works left unfinished by Mondino. In these paintings, the landscape is depicted in a highly poetic and classical manner. 

During these years, he was primarily based in Ferrara. In 1606, Cesare d'Este granted him the free use of two rooms within his castle. 

Following his brothers' death, he adopted his nephew Francesco and introduced him to the art of painting. With the aim of providing him with artistic education, he sent him to Rome to assist Count Ippolito Giglioli. 

 
In February 1620, while in Tivoli, the artist completed one of his last works, the "Washing of the feet," for Cardinal Alessandro d'Este. 

He died in Ferrara in the same year.

 Photo UniCredit Group (Sebastiano Pellion di Persano)