Pietro da Cortona, an eminent Italian Baroque painter and architect, played a significant role in the development of Roman Baroque architecture alongside his contemporaries Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini. Born as Pietro Berrettini in Cortona, Tuscany, he received his early artistic training in Florence under Andrea Commodi. However, drawn to the allure of Rome, he ventured there in 1612/3, joining the studio of Baccio Ciarpi. In Rome, his remarkable talents were recognized by prominent patrons, including Marcello Sacchetti, the papal treasurer during Pope Urban VIII's reign. This led to major commissions, such as the fresco decoration in the church of Santa Bibiana and various works for the Sacchetti family, showcasing his mastery in both frescoes and canvases. His artistic brilliance and inventive architectural designs marked him as a distinguished figure in the Baroque era.
