Giuseppe Badaracco (1588–1657), also called “Il Sordo” (the Deaf), was an Italian painter of the
Baroque period, active mainly in Genoa, in
Liguria and in the island of
Corsica.
Born in Genoa into well-to-do family, he first studied classic literature, but moved into an apprenticeship with the painter
Bernardo Strozzi, then
Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo. He worked for some years in
Florence, where he copied many of the works of
Andrea del Sarto. Returning to Genoa (about 1625), he painted mainly for private customers. He worked also in
Corsica (at that time part of the
Republic of Genoa), where he painted locally influential paintings for some churches around
Bastia. He died in 1657 from the
plague that swept through Genoa. He fathered four sons; among them
Giovanni Raffaele (1648–1717), who was also his pupil, became a notable painter.
Virgin and
St Joseph intercede with the
Trinity for the souls of
Purgatory, in the church of San Pierre at
Luri, Corsica. More of his paintings are found in other churches near
Bastia
Paintings for church of St Anthony the Abbott at
Diano Marina
Madonna and Child with saints Peter, Erasmus and Anthony Abbott church of San Matteo at
Borghetto Santo Spirito[2]
Miracle of St Antony of Padua and the mule, Oratory of San Giuseppe, in the same town.[3]
The last two paintings are interesting also from the historical point of view, as they show on the background two different views of Borghetto Santo Spirito in the 17th century.