The Birth of the Virgin

Sebastiano Conca, known as Il Cavaliere, was an eminent Italian painter born in Gaeta on January 8, 1680, and passing in Naples on September 1, 1764. The eldest of ten siblings, Conca's artistic journey began under the tutelage of Francesco Solimena in Naples, a pivotal figure in the Neapolitan school of painting. In 1706, alongside his brother Giovanni, who served as his assistant, Conca moved to Rome. There, he collaborated with Carlo Maratta, a relationship that tempered his initially exuberant style. His talent soon caught the attention of Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, his patron, who introduced him to Pope Clement XI. This connection led to Conca's commission for the fresco of Jeremiah in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, a work that earned him the title of knight and a diamond cross from the cardinal. In 1710, Conca founded the 'Accademia del Nudo,' attracting students from across Europe, including Pompeo Batoni, Olivio Sozzi, and Giuseppe Tresca, thereby spreading his influence continent-wide. His reputation was further solidified by commissions such as the ceiling frescoes in the Basilica of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, commissioned by Cardinal Troiano Acquaviva d'Aragona in 1721. By 1729, Conca's stature in the art world was recognized with his membership and subsequent directorship of the Accademia di San Luca. His 1731 fresco in the Church of the Santissima Annunziata in Siena, 'Probatica Piscina,' was particularly celebrated for its grandeur and meticulous adherence to the Gospel narrative, showcasing Conca's mastery of composition and detail. Throughout his career, Conca's work remained in high demand among the ecclesiastical and aristocratic elite, marking him as a central figure in the Italian Baroque movement.