He was born at
Rovato, in Brescian territory, and studied first under
Fioravante Ferramola. Others state he trained with
Vincenzo Foppa. His brothers Pietro and Jacopo were also painters. He may have been apprenticed to
Titian in
Venice and modelled his earlier portrait-painting on the Venetian style. On the other hand, the style also resembles that of
Giorgione or late
Bellini. He conceived a great enthusiasm for Raphael, though he never travelled to
Rome; on the other hand, his classical serenity resembles that shown by
Leonardo and his followers in Lombardy such as
Bramantino. He may have consulted with his contemporary
Girolamo Savoldo. Moretto excelled more in sedate altarpieces than in narrative action, and more in oil painting than in fresco, although he painted fine frescoes depicting the idle daughters of Count Martinengo in one of the palaces near Brescia. He collaborated with
Floriano Ferramola in the decoration of the dome of Brescia Cathedral. In the
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna is a
St Justina (once ascribed to
Il Pordenone); in the
Staedel Museum, Frankfurt, the
Madonna Enthroned between Sts. Anthony and Sebastian; in the Berlin Museum, a colossal
Adoration of the Shepherds, and a large votive picture (one of the master's best) of the
Madonna and Child, with infant angels and other figures above the clouds, and below, amid a rich landscape, two priests; in the
National Gallery,
Central London, is a
St Bernardino and Other Saints. Throughout his career his works display an internal oscillation between the traditions of
Venetian painting and the Central Italian schools. Simultaneously he looked at the form and colour of Venetian artists such as
Titian and
Palma the Elder whilst his classicising, sweet intensity earned him the name "
Raphael of
Brescia". Though there is some uncertainty regarding his studio, he took on a number of pupils, the most important of whom was the portraitist
Giovanni Battista Moroni. He also influenced
Callisto Piazza. Il Moretto was stated to have been a man of great personal piety, preparing himself by prayer and fasting for any great act of sacred art, such as the painting of the Virgin-mother. ==Public collections==