Piero di Cosimo
Piero di Cosimo was terrified of thunderstorms, could not bear the sound of coughing, crying babies, chanting friars or church bells, and reportedly lived on a diet of hard-boiled eggs, which he cooked fifty at a time while boiling glue for his paintings. Giorgio Vasari, who compiled these details, described him as living "more like a beast than a man". He let his garden run wild on principle, preferring to see plants and animals free of cultivation.
Biography
He was born in Florence around 1462, took the name di Cosimo from his master Cosimo Rosselli, and by 1480 was working as an unpaid apprentice in Rosselli's workshop. He operated outside the official artistic circles of Florentine Renaissance painting, borrowing freely from Leonardo, Signorelli and Netherlandish artists without belonging to any school.
His mythological paintings, many based on Vitruvius's account of human evolution, are filled with hybrid creatures, fantastic landscapes and strange revels. He also painted portraits, including the posthumous bust of Simonetta Vespucci (c. 1480), and excelled at designing pageants and triumphal processions for Florentine festivals. He could discern equestrian battles and urban scenes in the stains on a wall, a habit Leonardo also described. He died in Florence in 1521.
Timeline
- 1490Painted "Portrait of a Woman, said to be of Simonetta Vespucci".
- 1493Painted "Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine of Alexandria".
- 1500Painted "The Fight between the Lapiths and the Centaurs".
- 1505Painted "The Discovery of Honey by Bacchus".
- 1510Painted "The Immaculate Conception with Saints".
- 1520Painted "Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels".
Notable Works
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Where to See Piero di Cosimo
2 museums worldwide.
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2 worksLouvre
Paris, France
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1 worksPhilbrook Museum of Art
Tulsa, United States
Piero di Cosimo prints
Hand-finished archival prints from Piero di Cosimo's body of work.
Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels - Piero di Cosimo
From £37.00
Portrait of Simonetta Vespucci as Cleopatra - Piero di Cosimo
From £37.00
Portrait of a Woman - Piero di Cosimo
From £28.00
The Myth of Prometheus - Piero di Cosimo
From £28.00
Maria Magdalena - Piero di Cosimo
From £28.00
The Discovery of Honey by Bacchus - Piero di Cosimo
From £28.00
Related Artists
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See all Piero di Cosimo prints →Frequently Asked Questions
Who is piero di cosimo?
Piero di Cosimo was an artist whose early work was influenced by Filippino Lippi, Ghirlandaio, and Dutch masters. He followed Leonardo in his treatment of colour, combining varied strands to produce atmospheric and dramatic moments.Who was piero di cosimo?
Piero di Cosimo was a Renaissance-era painter who worked in Florence, taking his name from his master Cosimo Rosselli. Giorgio Vasari described him as eccentric, detailing his fear of thunderstorms and aversion to cultivated gardens. He operated outside official artistic circles, borrowing from various artists without adhering to a specific school.What art movement was Piero di Cosimo part of?
Piero di Cosimo was associated with the Renaissance movement.What is Piero di Cosimo known for?
Piero di Cosimo is known for his mythological paintings featuring hybrid creatures and fantastic scenes, often based on Vitruvius's theories of human evolution. He also painted portraits, such as the posthumous bust of Simonetta Vespucci, and designed pageants for Florentine festivals. He reportedly found inspiration for battles and cityscapes in wall stains.What was Piero di Cosimo's art style?
Piero di Cosimo's art style was influenced by Leonardo, Signorelli, and Netherlandish artists, though he did not belong to any particular school. His mythological paintings are characterised by hybrid creatures and fantastic landscapes. He also painted portraits and designed festival pageants.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Piero di Cosimo.
- [1] museum Philbrook Museum of Art Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] book Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author, Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author - The Art Book_ New Edition, Mini Format Used for: biography.
- [3] book Masterpieces of western art : a history of art in 900 individual studies from the Gothic to the present day Used for: biography.
- [4] book Beckett, Wendy, The story of painting Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-06-28. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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