Born in Modena in 1735, Girolamo Fontana trained in the workshop of Giuseppe Maria Crespi, known as "Lo Spagnolo," where he developed remarkable skills in drawing and painting, specializing in genre scenes and portraits.

Throughout his career, Fontana worked mainly in Modena, where he received numerous commissions from nobles and religious institutions. Among his most important works are paintings for the Church of San Vincenzo and the Church of San Domenico in Modena.
Fontana was also a skilled portraitist and created numerous portraits of prominent figures of the time, including members of the Este family.

His works are appreciated for their liveliness and attention to detail, which make his portraits particularly realistic and engaging.

The artist participated in various exhibitions and received numerous accolades for his work. His fame extended beyond Modena, and his works were also in demand in other Italian cities, such as Bologna.

Girolamo Fontana died in Modena in 1803.

Photo UniCredit Group (Sebastiano Pellion di Persano)