Moretto, Alessandro

Born circa 1498 in Brescia; died there between Dec. 9, 1554, and Dec. 22, 1554. Italian painter of the Brescian school.

Moretto was influenced by Venetian painting. His mature work, executed in a style opposed to mannerism, combined realistic images with a serene and dreamy mood (Christ in Emmaus, c. 1533, Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo, Brescia). His portraits are austere and contemplative (Portrait of a Nobleman, 1526, National Gallery, London). Moretto’s works are marked by a silvery, luminous palette and smooth compositional rhythms. His later paintings are somewhat static.