Enthroned Madonna and Child with Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, by Defendente Ferrari, Italy (Chivasso), c. 1525, oil on wood panel - Chazen Museum of Art - DSC02055

Defendente Ferrari was an Italian painter who lived during the High Renaissance. He was born in either 1480 or 1485 in the town of Chieri, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Ferrari is best known for his religious paintings, which were heavily influenced by the works of Leonardo da Vinci. Ferrari's style was characterised by his use of light and shadow to create depth and realism in his paintings. He often used a technique known as sfumato, in which colours are blended together to create a soft, hazy effect. This technique was also used by Leonardo da Vinci in his famous painting, the Mona Lisa. Ferrari's most famous work is the altarpiece he painted for the church of San Giacomo Maggiore in Bologna. The painting, entitled Madonna and Child with Saints, depicts the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus surrounded by various saints. The painting is remarkable for its use of light and shadow to create a sense of depth and three-dimensionality. Despite his talent as a painter, Ferrari struggled for recognition during his lifetime. He lived in poverty for much of his life and died around 1540, leaving behind a relatively small body of work. However, his paintings continue to be admired for their beauty and technical skill, and he is remembered as an important figure in the history of Italian Renaissance art.