Francesco Morone

Francesco Morone (1471 – 16 May 1529) was an Italian painter, active in his native city of Verona in a Renaissance style.

He learned the art of painting in his father Domenico Morone's workshop, where he met Girolamo dai Libri, with whom he formed a lasting friendship and collaborated on several occasions. After working for a long time as his father's assistant, in 1498 he signed his first independent work: a Crucifixion for the Avanzi Chapel of the Church of San Bernardino in his native city. This first work marked the beginning of his artistic separation from his father's figure, a process of emancipation that was completed around 1502–1504 with the creation of the canvas Madonna enthroned with Child between Saints Zeno and Nicholas, considered one of his finest works. His successful period continued with the fresco decoration of the sacristy of the Church of Santa Maria in Organo in Verona, unanimously regarded as among his masterpieces.

Around 1517 he signed the Stigmata of Saint Francis. also a canvas of fine workmanship=In his later works, one can discern the influence of his pupil Paolo Morando, who in the meantime had surpassed his master in adapting to new stylistic trends. In the last years of his life, he drew even closer to religion, which probably influenced his artistic production, thereafter characterized by "sweet and melancholy Madonnas". He died in 1529 and his remains were placed in San Bernardino, where many of his most important works are still preserved.