Luca Giordano, an Italian Baroque painter, was born in Naples on October 18, 1634. He studied in Naples in the circle of Jusepe de Ribera. The subjects he painted vary from religious themes to mythology; his nickname was "Luca fa presto" to emphasize his speed of execution; he is said to have painted a large altarpiece in a single day. In 1652 he went to Rome, where he came into contact with the environment of Pietro da Cortona whose influence is evident in the huge fresco on the ceiling of the Ballroom of Palazzo Medici-Riccardi in Florence, executed by Luca Giordano from 1682 to 1686 .
