The Artistic Journey of Francesco Furini: Master of Baroque and Mannerist Painting

Francesco Furini (1600-1646) was a prominent Italian painter from Florence, known for his work in both the Baroque and Mannerist styles. He began his artistic training with Matteo Rosselli, who also taught Lorenzo Lippi and Baldassare Franceschini. Furini’s style was additionally influenced by Domenico Passignano and Giovanni Biliverti.

He became friends with Giovanni da San Giovanni and traveled to Rome in 1619, where he encountered the work of Caravaggio and his followers. Among Furini’s notable students were Simone Pignoni (1611-1698) and Giovanni Battista Galestruzzi.

At forty, Furini became a priest for the parish of Sant’Ansano in Mugello. His paintings often depicted biblical and mythological scenes, using a soft, misty technique called sfumato. During the 1630s, when he became a priest, his style began to resemble that of Guido Reni.