(b Genoa, 22 Dec 1624; d Genoa, 17 Feb 1659). Painter and draughtsman, son of (1) Bernardo Castello. He was one of the leading Ligurian painters of the 17th century, whose art developed from a continuous and passionate study of a wide range of sources. His paintings of mythological and religious subjects unite an elegant figure style with an interest in dramatic and violent compositions; his touch is spontaneous and his palette vibrant with reds and pinks, blues and yellows. His brilliant decorative frescoes introduced the splendour of the High Baroque to Genoese painters. He was well known for his rapid oil sketches, with light and lively brushwork, which anticipate aspects of the Rococo. Few of his paintings are dated or datable, and his stylistic development remains highly controversial.

Part of the Castello (ii) family

• Castello (ii), Valerio
  • Castello (ii)
  • Illusionism, §2(i)(b): Large-scale projects, c 1600–c 1700
  • assistants
    • Biscaino, Bartolomeo
  • collaboration
    • Piola: (1) Domenico Piola, §1: Paintings and drawings
  • patrons and collectors
    • Balbi
    • Pallavicini
  • pupils
    • Magnasco: (1) Stefano Magnasco
    • Merano, Giovanni Battista
    • Travi, Antonio
  • teachers
    • Ferrari, Giovanni Andrea de’
    • Fiasella, Domenico
  • works
    • Castello (ii): (2) Valerio Castello, §1(ii)(a): Easel paintings, c 1646–59
    • Castello (ii): (2) Valerio Castello, §1(ii)(b): Fresco cycles, c 1646–59