Discovering Garofalo - the Raphael of Ferrara - in his town

The 15th century Officina Ferrarese with Cosmè Tura, Francesco Del Cossa and Ercole De Roberti featered in the 16th century some more extraordinary painters: among them Dosso Dossi and his brother Battista,Girolamo da Carpi as well as Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo (1481-1559). The latter also known as the Raphael of Ferrara. Garofalo's main patrons and clients were members of local ancient wealthy powerful yet faithful families as well as convents and monasteries; They all committed works mainly for their special altarpieces. When the hardworking gentle artist died in 1559, the official sorrow lasted three days. Today, his paintings are part of many important pubblic and private art collections worldwide. Ferrara still displays a large selection of his works, mainly at the Pinacoteca Nazionale — Palazzo Diamanti, but also at Museo della Cattedrale, Palazzo Costabili, Palazzo del Seminario, and in some basilicas: Cattedrale, San Francesco, and Santa Maria in Vado.