Sebastiano Conca was Italian painter from the Gaeta. He was an artist known for late Baroque style of painting.
Conca first studied art under Solimena in the Kingdom of Naples. He then moved to Rome with his brother Giovanni in 1706. He stayed at Rome for several years and worked to improve his drawing by using chalk only. There he was able to create numerous altarpieces, historical and mythological paintings as well as frescoes.
His creations were patronized by Cardinal Ottoboni who introduced him to Clement XI. The coronation of Santa Cecilia was done by him in collaboration with Carlo Maratta. By 1718, he was elected as member of the Accademia di San Luca. He served as director for the Accademia from 1729 - 1731 and from 1739 - 1741. Pompeo Battoni, Andrea Casali, Placido Campoli, Corrado Giaquinto, Salvatore Monosilio, Gaetano Lapis, Literio Paladini, Rosalba Maria Salvoni, Drancesco Preziao, Gasparo Serenari and Agostino Masucci were some of his students in the Academy.
The frescoes of Probatica, the Pool of Siloam in the Ospedale di Santa Maria della Scala of Siena and the large allegorical canvases of the Palazzo Lomellini Doria were painted by him. He also worked for the Savoy family in Turin, for the Basilica di Superga and for the Royal Palace. Conca received widespread official acclaim and patronage for these.
Sebastiano Conca published a guide to painting entitled Ammonimenti in 1739. It contains moralistic advice and various techniques in painting. By 1752, he returned to Naples and painted frescoes for the church of Santa Chiara, canvases for the Chapel in Caserta Palace. Among his paintings, The Vision of Aenas best reflects his late Baroque style. The painting shows a crowded, mythologic and classical figure.
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