Frederico Zuccaro was a sixteenth-century Italian painter, who was, in his time, the most famous painter in Europe after Titian. He was also highly influential, creating an enormous body of work, mostly of religious subjects, which was not unusual during the period.

Zuccaro was born in Urbino, Italy, the son of a painter. Growing up in the household of an artist gave young Zuccaro ample opportunity and encouragement to develop his own talents. He later traveled to Rome, where he became heavily influenced by the Mannerism school, which was very fashionable at the time. He studied in Rome under the direction of his older brother, Taddeo, who had also left home early to pursue fame as an artist. His first years in Rome were difficult, despite his brother's guidance. He worked hard on his drawing, despite ill treatment by his employers. The two brothers worked side by side for some years, painting frescoes for rich Roman families in palaces, houses, chapels, and pleasure villas located outside Rome. The two did not always get along, however. Once, when Federico was working on a fresco, his brother interrupted and began retouching it. Federico became incensed and destroyed Taddeo's work. They resolved the matter by agreeing that Taddeo could retouch his younger brother's drawings and cartoons, but never his frescoes, oils, or any other medium.

When Taddeo died in 1566, Federico assumed leadership of his brother's studio, though he continued to pursue his other passion, travel, as well. Zuccaro traveled to and spent time working in England, Spain, the Netherlands, and all over Italy. While in England, Queen Elizabeth I commissioned him to paint her portrait. He received a number of other commissions from highly placed individuals in England, including Mary, Queen of Scots (who was at that time being held in prison by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I), Sir Nicholas Bacon, Sir Francis Walsingham, and others. In Spain he was hired by the king to design and complete a number of frescoes at the palace El Escorial. He also completed Giorgio Vasari's frescoes in the dome of the Florence Cathedral. Additionally, he received commissions to work in the Vatican and provided architectural designs for the Palazzo Zuccaro and other structures.

Zucarro's career did not always run perfectly smooth. He had a number of critics, and when he dared to portray the Pope in a caricature painting, Zuccaro was banished from Rome. However, within ten years he returned to the city to found the Accademia di San Luca, and served as its first director. Also during this period he wrote and had published a treatise on art theory. Shortly after his death in 1609, he was raised to the rank of cavaliere.

Image: Federico Zuccari. Self-portrait, after 1588.