Pietro Montanini was born in 1626 in Perugia. He was taught by Pietro da Cortona, after an initial apprenticeship with his uncle John Francis Basset. He was oriented into ways of the Roman classical painting by Guido Reni, Francesco Albani and Giovanni Francesco Barbieri. Montanini was dedicated to the painting of the figure and with outcomes of excellent quality, even experimenting with dell'affresco technique. After some travel and additional study, he returned to Perugia in 1658. During a Roman stay Montanini's work was much appreciated by the Romans for its thoroughness and accuracy, so that 'primary characters of the paintings gave him continuous commissions that their bisognavano to adorn galleries'. Pietro Montanini then beg1. cfr. L. Pascoli, 'Lives of 'painters, sculptors and architects perugini', Rome 1732, pp. 214-221 2. Federico Zeri, 1954, p. 121- 1959, pp. 184...