Federico Zuccaro

Federico Zuccaro joined his elder brother and fellow artist Taddeo (1529-1566) in Rome between 1555 and 1563, and worked with him on decorative projects that included the Casino of Pius IV in the Vatican gardens and the Palazzo Farnese at Caprarola. Despite many trips to other cities and countries during the course of his career, he always returned to Rome and its environs to work on major commissions. In 1564, Federico accepted independent commissions in Venice and Florence, where he worked for the Medici family and became a member of the new Accademia del Disegno. He returned to Rome in 1565 to work with Taddeo on a number of commissions until the latter's death a year later. In 1574 Federico traveled to England, where he painted numerous portraits of aristocracy and royalty, as well as to The Netherlands, Spain, and France. In Spain from 1585 to 1588, he participated in the decorative campaign at the Escorial, the royal residence of Philip II.

Zuccaro, whose work has been associated with Counter-Reformation iconography and style, was also deeply occupied with art theory. In 1581 he was elected head of the Accademia di San Luca (the Roman academy of artists), where he lectured. He elaborated on theoretical artistic principles in the design and decoration of his own house in Rome, the Palazzo Zuccaro. His writings on art include L'Idea de' pittori, scultori ed architetti (Turin, 1607), derived from his lectures at the Roman academy.