TURA, Giovanni Francesco - b. ~1485 Mantova, d. ~1546 Mantova

Italian painter, also called Tura Mantovano. He is documented from 1510 to 1546. This highly unusual artist developed a fascinating style, encompassing the influences of a wide range of painters. The soft sfumato effects, coupled with the mystical, dream-like landscape, recall the styles of Ferrarese artists such as Garofalo, Mazzolino and Dosso Dossi, but the influence of Parmigianino, Lotto and Giulio Romano are also perceptible. Despite all the variety of artistic references, Tura’s overall painting manner remains distinctly Mantuan in style.

The corpus ascribed to Tura was formerly grouped under the name of the Orembelli Master, a moniker derived from a Holy Family with Sts Elizabeth and the Infant John the Baptist in the collection of Alfonso Orembelli, Milan. Many of the paintings in this group had previously been thought to be the early activity of Correggio. However, it was suggested that the group of works given to the Orembelli Master is expansive and may in fact encompass more than one hand.

Holy Family in a Wooded River Landscape

This tender depiction of the Holy Family in a wooded river landscape with ships and a castle across the river beyond was formerly published as the work of Correggio.

Despite all the variety of artistic references, Tura’s overall painting manner remains distinctly Mantuan in style. The artist often employed curious iconography, exemplified in the far background of this painting, where smoke rises from a ship aflame among the vessels in the harbour on the city’s shore.