Pietro Testa Detto Lucchesino Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Pietro Testa, known as Lucchesino, was an Italian painter and engraver born in Lucca in 1611. Having arrived in Rome at a young age, probably before 1630, he began to learn the art in Domenichino's workshop, and then frequented, for a short period, that of Pietro da Cortona. Read the full biography

Pietro Testa, known as Lucchesino, was an Italian painter and engraver born in Lucca in 1611. Having arrived in Rome at a young age, probably before 1630, he began to learn the art in Domenichino's workshop, and then frequented, for a short period, that of Pietro da Cortona. Thanks to the encouragement of Cassiano dal Pozzo, he created a series of drawings depicting important Roman monuments. These acquaintances in the so-called antiquarian circles and the profound knowledge of Roman monuments influenced much of his work. His early paintings and engravings were influenced by Pietro da Cortona. His most important work is the "Massacre of the Innocents", created between 1635 and 1637, and now preserved in the Spada Gallery in Rome. Pietro Testa died tragically in Rome in 1650, drowned in the Tiber. It is believed that it was suicide, caused by the misunderstanding of critics and clients and the failure to complete his works.