Lazzaro Tavarone (1556 – 1640), Raffaele Adorno (1375- 1458) besieges the city of Tunis, 1624, Fresco, The central box of the vault on the ground floor, Palazzo Cattaneo-Adorno, Genoa
Lazzaro Tavarone trained under Luca Cambiaso (1527–1585), a significant figure in Genoese school who laid the groundwork for the widespread fresco decoration of Genoa’s public and private spaces. Cambiaso’s workshop introduced large-scale, high-quality frescoes and intricate facades that lent distinction to Genoa’s architecture. His influence inspired a generation of artists, including Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo, Simone Barabino, Giulio Benso, Battista and Bernardo Castello, Giovanni Battista Paggi, and Francesco Spezzini, all of whom carried on and expanded this tradition.
This visual storytelling became a well-established local custom, with historical frescoes and architectural decorations serving as essential expressions of identity. Patrons, especially from Genoa’s oldest dynasties, embraced this art form to convey their role, power, heritage, and public duty. By depicting military victories and ancestral figures, these artworks linked family lineages to Genoa’s historical narratives, fostering public admiration and a sense of civic pride.
