Giovanni Donato da Montorfano

Who was Giovanni Donato da Montorfano?

Giovanni Donato da Montorfano was an Italian painter who was born, lived, and worked in Milan.

Giovanni Donato comes from a family of painters. His grandfather Abramo da Montorfano worked in the Milan Cathedral as a painter and was a member of the Milan painter's guild. The tradition was carried on by Giovanni Donato's father Alberto da Montorfano, who was also employed at the Milan Cathedral as a painter. Both Giovanni Donato and his brother Vincenzo were raised and taught by their father to continue on the family tradition of painting.

Giovanni Donato is best known for his fresco of the Crucifixion that is signed and dated 1495. The Crucifixion is now displayed at the Church and Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. It is displayed on the wall facing Leonardo Da Vinci's famous masterpiece the The Last Supper.