Tura, Cosimo

Tura, Cosimo

 or Cosmè Tura

(born c. 1430, Ferrara—died 1495, Ferrara) Italian painter. Court painter to the Este family at Ferrara, his early Renaissance style was influenced by Andrea Mantegna and Piero della Francesca. A master of allegory and decorative painting, he was the founder and first significant figure of the school of Ferrara. His work is characterized by a mannered, nervous, and wiry line, carefully rendered detail, and brilliant colour.

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Tura, Cosimo 

(also Cosme Tura). Born 1429 or 1430 in Guarda Ferrarese, Emilia-Romagna; died there April 1495. Italian painter. Representative of the Ferrarese school of the quattrocento.

Tura studied with Ferrarese and Paduan masters of the mid-15th century and was influenced by the later Donatello and Andrea del Castagno. In 1451, Tura became court artist to the dukes of Este. His work, although typical of the Renaissance in most respects, shows the influence of the late Gothic. Tura’s idiosyncratic use of the late Gothic elements is most apparent in his expressive forms and in the mannered gestures and tense facial expressions of his figures. Tura’s work is characterized by precise, severe drawing and resonant, cold colors. The artist’s principal works are the Allegorical Figure (c. 1462, National Gallery, London), the frescoes of the Palazzo Schifanoia (c. 1470), the Pieta (c. 1472, Correr Museum, Venice), and the Roverella altar-piece (1474), parts of which are housed in the National Gallery in London and in other collections.

REFERENCES

Lazarev, V. N. “Kozimo Tura.” In his book Starye ital’ianskie mastera. Moscow, 1972. Pages 271–308.
Tura: Paintings and Drawings. Edited by E. Ruhmer. New York [1958].