(b Brescia, c. 1498; d Brescia, between 9 Nov and 22
Dec 1554).
Italian painter. Together with Romanino and Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo,
he was one of the most distinguished painters of Brescia of the 16th century.
Influenced by both Lombard verism and contemporary Venetian painters, Moretto
created an individual style in which realism and Venetian light and colour were
perfectly balanced. He was personally involved in the local movement of Roman
Catholic reform, and this is reflected in his direct, solemn and often moving
depictions of religious subjects. He was also an innovative portrait painter.