Bernardo Strozzi (c1581-1644) was an Italian painter born in Genoa. In 1598, at the age of 17, he joined a Capuchin monastery. When his father died he left to look after his mother, and when she,too, died he was relucatnt to return to the monastery: by now he was already painting. He therefore fled to Venice where, with Jan Lys and Domenico Fetti, he came under the influence of Caravaggio. He became known as il prete Genovese (the Genoa priest).
After a commission to paint Claudio Monteverdi his fame grew, and his portrait paintings included many of the leading Venetians. His works are now in many of the world's art galleries.
He died in Venice in 1644.
