Giovanni Badile

(b Verona, 1379; d before 1451). Painter and ?draughtsman. He is mentioned frequently in Veronese records from 1409 until 1448, when he made his will. Although he apparently enjoyed local esteem and was well connected with important Veronese families, Vasari did not mention him. Giovanni's only certain works are the frescoes of 1443-4 illustrating scenes from the Lives of SS Filippo Benizzi and Jerome in the Guantieri Chapel, S Maria della Scala, Verona, and the signed altarpiece depicting the Virgin and Child with Saints (Verona, Castelvecchio) which is clearly inspired by Michelino da Besozzo. The Guantieri Chapel frescoes show not only the influence of Michelino da Besozzo and Stefano da Verona on Badile, but also his admiration for Pisanello, four of whose medals are reproduced on an enlarged scale between the windows. The polyptych of the Virgin and Child with a Donor and Saints, known as the dell'Aquila Altarpiece because of the presence of an eagle on the coat of arms (Verona, Castelvecchio), is signed Johes Baili. Although the signature has been questioned by many scholars, the altarpiece is stylistically extremely close to the frescoes in S Maria della Scala.

Part of the Badile family

See the Abbreviations for further details.