Cortona, Pietro da

Pietro da Cortona, whose real name was Pietro Berettini (or Berrettini) (Cortona, 1st November 1596 - Rome, 16th May 1669) was an Italian painter and architect.
Pietro de Cortona belongs to the early Baroque period. He is best known for his decorative frescoes and paintings. During the pontificate of Urban VIII (of whom he painted a portrait), he was one of the leading established artists in Rome, alongside Bernini and Borromini. He may be deemed the greatest exponent of Middle Baroque decorative art, overshadowing earlier artists such as Giovanni da San Giovanni and eclipsing competitors such as Giovanni Lanfranco.