Neapolitan School (18^th century) 

In the 18^th century, painting in Naples was dominated by local artists inspired by the paintings of Luca Giordano, as well as the Venetian and broader European schools.

Large religious canvases gradually gave way to fresco cycles, driven to the rise of grand noble and royal palaces featuring important references to Enlightenment architecture; the Neapolitan School of the 18^th century thus became a remarkable example of Baroque art.

Moreover, during the Bourbon period, alongside the archaeological discoveries of Pompeii and Herculaneum, great architectural works were undertaken, including the Royal Palace of Caserta, the San Carlo theatre, and the Carlino aqueduct, providing extensive employment to local artists.

The most prominent artists who left a lasting legacy and served as mentors to others, not only in Naples but across Europe, were Francesco Solimena and Francesco De Mura, alongside the more famous Luca Giordano.

Photo UniCredit Group (Sebastiano Pellion di Persano)