Cosimo Tura

Cosimo Tura
An Allegorical Figure of Calliope, c. 1460
Born	c. 1430 Ferrara
Died	c. 1495 Ferrara
Nationality	Italian
Known for	Painting
Movement	Quattrocento or early-Renaissance

Cosimo Tura (c. 1430 – 1495), also known as Il Cosmè or Cosmè Tura (Italian pronunciation: [koˈzmɛ ˈtuːra]), was an Italian early-Renaissance (or Quattrocento) painter and considered one of the founders of the School of Ferrara.

Born in Ferrara, he was a student of Francesco Squarcione of Padua. Later he obtained patronage from both Dukes Borso and Ercole I d'Este. By 1460, he was given a stipend by the Ferrarese Court. His pupils include Francesco del Cossa and Francesco Bianchi. He appears to have been influenced by Mantegna's and Piero della Francesca's Quattrocento styles.

In Ferrara, he is well represented by frescoes in the Palazzo Schifanoia (1469–71). This pleasure palace, with facade and architecture of little note, belonged to the d'Este family and is located just outside the medieval town walls. Cosimo, along with Francesco del Cossa, helped produce an intricately conceived allegorical series about the months of the year and zodiac symbols. The series contains contemporary portraits of musicians, laborers, and carnival floats in idyllic parades. As in Piero della Francesca's world, the unemotive figures mill in classical serenity.

He also painted the organ doors for the Duomo showing the Annunciation (1469). He collaborated in the painting of a series of "muses" for a Studiolo of the Palace Belfiore of Leonello d'Este in Ferrara, including the allegorical figure of Calliope at the National Gallery (see image). While the individual attributions are often debated, among the artists thought to complete the series were Angelo di Pietro da Sienna, also called Maccagnino or Angelo Parrasio, and Michele Pannonio.

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