Agostino Mitelli was born in
Battedizzo, near Bologna, and died in
Madrid while working for the court of
Philip IV of Spain. He was a pupil of
Gabriello Ferrantini (
degli Occhiali) and
Girolamo Curti. He had a long and fruitful collaboration with
Michelangelo Colonna in northern and central Italy; Colonna principally executed the figurative elements and Mitelli, the
quadratura framework. Examples of his
quadratura can be found at
Bologna,
Parma,
Modena,
Florence,
Rome, and
Genoa, testifying to the popularity of the style. Colonna and Mitelli even travelled to
Madrid, in 1658, to help decorate the Royal
Alcazar and the Palace of
Buen Retiro. Mitelli died in Madrid. He also published some etchings in a manuscript entitled ''Freggi dell'architettura da Agostino Mitelli''. Through his numerous pupils who spread out through Italy and Europe, Mitelli exerted a strong influence on the 'school' of
quadratura painting. His son
Giuseppe Maria Mitelli (1634–1718) was also a painter and engraver. Two of his daughters married pupils of his;
Baldassare Bianchi was mainly active in Mantua, and
Giacomo Alboresi was mainly active in Parma and Florence.
Giovanni Paderna, Bianchi's first master, had been a follower of Mitelli.
Giovanni Giacomo Monti, a partner of Bianchi, was Mitelli's pupil.
Giacomo Friani;
Domenico Santi, known as Mengazzino;
Francesco Quaino; and
Andrea Montecelli were also Mitelli's pupils. ==References==