Study Baldi was born in Pistoia around 1624. He is initially believed to have been a pupil of a little known
Francesco Leoncini in his native city. Attracted by the fame of his fellow Tuscan
Pietro da Cortona and seeking his instruction, he sought da Cortona in Rome, where he was welcomed. Pascoli said that he obtained his first commissions through da Cortona, under whom he became adept at fresco technique.
Work The first public work was probably the
St Francis painted in the third chapel to the left in the church of San Marco in Rome, dating back to the seventeenth century decoration of the church (1653–56). He painted a
David and Goliath for
Alexander VII in the
Palazzo Quirinale, where his style evolved into a choice of light tones that are typical of his style and is today most noticeable in his frescoes. Gradually, Baldi came to personal interpretation of Cortona's style, by then the dominant style in Rome along with style represented by
Andrea Sacchi. He accepted compositional formulas and the typology, but not the baroque impetus. In the representation of the landscape, he was influenced by
Gaspar Dughet – the French artist who painted the background in the
Creation of Adam and Eve – and also by
Pier Francesco Mola's background in the altarpiece
The Rest During the Flight to Egypt.
Religious commissions He also painted frescoes for the church of
San Giovanni in Oleo (1658), and
San Giovanni in Patmos (1660–1665) for
San Giovanni in Laterano. He also painted an altarpiece of the
Martyrdom of St. Lazarus for the church of
Santi Luca e Martina. He also worked in
Camerino,
Pistoia (an
Annunciation for the church of San Francesco and a
Repose in Egypt for the
Umilta) and
Perugia (Casa Borgia-Montemellino). As an engraver, Baldi is known for a plate on
The Conversion of St. Paul. ==Gallery==