CORTO'NA, PTE'TRO BERRETTPNI, called Piero da Cortona, was born on November 1, 1596, at Cortona. His first master was Antonio Commodi, but he afterwards studied under Ciarpi at Rome. Being employed by a gilder to make some little figures, his skill attracted the notice of the Marquis of Sacchetti„ who visited the work-hop, and Pietro was induced to show some of his paintings. The marquis took him at once under his protection, and procured him numerous commissions, and among them an order to paint eome rooms in the palace of the reigning Pope Urban, in the Piazza Barberini. Cartons afterwards travelled, and executed various pictures by the way. He was employed by Ferdinand II. to paint some pictures in the Pitt' palace, and stayed some time in Florence ; but he left it in disgust, because the grand duke had listened to certain detractors, who had accused Cortona of palming his own pictures upon the prince iu place of some of Titian's which Ferdiaand desired to purchase of him. He settled fivally at Rome, and enjoyed the patronage of suc cessive pontiffs, until Alexander III. made him a knight. He died,
oppressed with years and the gout, May 10, 1669, full of wealth and honour.
Pietro da Cortona studied the works of Rafraelie, Michel Angelo, nod especially those of Polidoro de Carravaggio, from whom he learned to imitate the style of the later antiques, taking for his immediate model the sculpture of Trajan's column. His style of drawing is free, bold, and vigorous, and even coarse ; seldom finished is any except the most conspicuous parts. In design he is learned and masterly, though somewhat mannered and over-charged. His colour is sober and har monious. His principal works are at Rome, in the Barberini and in the Sacchetti palaces ; and at Florence, in the Pitti palace.
Cortona practised architecture as well as painting. He was buried in the church of San Mertin at Rome, which is considered his best architectural work ; and at his death he bequeathed to it a hundred thousand crowns. Cortona had many famous pupils; among them were Ciro Fern, Ranmelli, Oiordani, Borgognone, and Testa. (Pascoli.)