| Together with Allori, Passignano, and Rosseili, Biliverti is ranked as one of the most important Florentine painters of the early seventeenth century. A pupil of Cigoli, he accompanied bis master to Rome in 1595 and was with him in Rome again from 1604-8 (some sources say 1613). Biliverti completed Cigoli's Entry of Christ into Jerusalem (Florence, S. Croce) which was left unfinished upon Cigoli's death in 1613. Having matriculated in 1612 from the Accadcmia de Disegno, Biliverti was supported by Grand Duke Cosimo II from 1611 to 1621. His early style shows a strong affinity with the work of Cristofano Allori, but later on betrays the sensuality found in Furini's painting. Most of the paintings mentioned by Baldinucci still survive, as do countless sketches. Consisting principally of altarpieces, Biliverti's oeuvre also includes quadri da camera, that is, easel paintings depicting mythological subjects, undoubtedly painted for private viewing. Biliverti trained a number of important painters, including Orazio Fidani, Franceso Furini, Sigismondo Coccapani, Bartolomeo Salvestrint, Agoslino Melissi, and Baccio del Bianco. |
