Andrea Mantegna

Mantegna, Andrea (1431–1506), Italian painter and engraver. He was a member of the Paduan school, acclaimed for his mastery of anatomy and illusionistic perspective, and was attracted to the antique, as evidenced in his collection of Greek and Roman works. Among his most famous works are the altarpiece at St. Luke's (Milan), the bridal chamber of the Gonzaga palace (Mantua), where the illusion of sky on the ceiling was widely copied during the Baroque period; and the cartoons of the Triumph of Caesar (1495). Also known for his copper-plate engravings and drawings, Mantegna was influential in the development of printing. His initial letters for Geography, by Strabo, recaptured the Roman art of inscription.