TARCHIANI, Filippo - b. 1576 Firenze, d. 1645 Firenze

Italian painter. He was a pupil of Gregorio Pagani. He spent seven years in Rome (from 1601-1607). Upon his return to Florence, Tarchiani began to work in a more naturalistic idiom, undoubtedly also influenced by the Neapolitan painters of the Gentileschi family as well as by Battistello Caracciolo, who also worked at the grand ducal court.

Tarchiani is an interesting and individual exponent of Florentine early seventeenth century painting, demonstrating the many artistic trends current at the Medici Court. He was able to emulate the new naturalistic tendencies of Carravaggism and yet remained firmly grounded in the Florentine School of the disegno.

Artemisia Drinking Wine Mixed with the Ashes of her Husband, Mausolus

The love between Artemisia II and her brother Mausolus was so profound, they became symbols of love and devotion. Mausolus was a rich Greek vassal of the Persian Empire in what is now Turkey. Under the reign of he and his sister, their territory flourished, and they built many monuments. Their final monument was so glorious, it became known as one of the seven wonders of the world: a giant tomb, to house their ashes. When her brother Mausolus died, Artemisia’s grief was so great that she ritually drank a bit of his ashes every day.