Giorgio Giulio Clovio or Juraj Julije Klović was an illuminator, miniaturist, and painter born in the Kingdom of Croatia, who was mostly active in Renaissance Italy. He is considered the greatest illuminator of the Italian High Renaissance, and arguably the last very notable artist in the long tradition of the illuminated manuscript, before some modern revivals.
Portrait of Giorgio Giulio Clovio, pointing to his Farnese Hours, by El Greco.
Engraving of the Cabinet des Estampes Enea Vico after Giulio Clovio (1522).
Clovio's patron, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, from the Farnese Hours
Attributed to Giulio Clovio (Italian, 1498–1578). Crucifixion, ca. 1572. Tempera on parchment, 9 1/8 x 5 5/8 in. (23.2 x 14.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of A. Augustus Healy
Alessandro Farnese (cardinal)
Alessandro Farnese, an Italian cardinal and diplomat and a great collector and patron of the arts, was the grandson of Pope Paul III, and the son of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was murdered in 1547. He should not be confused with his nephew, Alessandro Farnese, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, grandson of Emperor Charles V and great-grandson of Pope Paul III.
Portrait by Titian, c. 1545-1546
Titian's triple portrait, Pope Paul III and his Grandsons, depicts Alessandro at left.
Pope Paul IV, c. 1556
Cardinal Carlo Borromeo
