The painter was probably born in 1471, but this date could be delayed of about five years, while his death is generally dated 1546. His birthplace is the parish of Valduggia, in Valsesia, always belonging to the Diocese of Novara, fact that influences very deeply his human and artistic religiousness. On the contrary, the background is less marked. In the following years, we can better see his debt towards Bramantino and the suggestions of a travel around middle-Italy and Rome, in the new XVI century , during the Jubilee. In Rome he could see the works by Perugino, Signorelli, Filippino Lippi, Pinturicchio, who were very active during those years. Some other important signs lead to Leonardo and to the graphics of Durer. The works of the first ten years show influences and lessons of Bramantino, Amedeo and Giovanni Pietro Giovenone, up to Eusebio Ferrari. He was living in Varallo with his wife and sons, and during those years, he completed the Polyptych for the Confraternita Vercellese of St. Anne, delivered the Polyptich of Arona and in 1513 he painted the fresco on the partition of the Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Varallo, according to the iconographic project of St. Francis upon Jesus' life. In 1514 he obtained the task of Ancona of the basilica of St. Gaudenzio in Novara. For ten years the documents cannot give a certain chronology of his work, but for sure a new concept of style and of the vision of arts were developed. The deep spiritual and artistic plunge into the great work of the Heavenly Jerusalem of the Sacred Mount of Varallo took the artist to his best, both in painting and in sculpture. Moreover we should think to an enlargement of his artistic production in the sense of a complete representation of the complex elements of communication, as for architecture, sculpture and painting.
In the meanwhile, his work enriched with many paintings such as the Polyptych of St. Gaudenzio in Varallo, during the intensification of his trips to Valtellina, also for a new marriage. The frescoes and pictures from Como were made during this period, but the main work in the months around year 1523 is the completing of the Chapel of the Calvary. Before going to live in Vercelli, he painted in 1525 a Polyptych for Romagnano Sesia. Since 1527 to 1535 he lived in Vercelli for the working at St. Cristopher. Many other paintings and anconas were made during the years of Vercelli for Casale Monferrato and Vigevano.
In 1534 he travelled to Saronno for the cupola of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Once again he mixed sculpture and painting for the representation of the Heavenly Glory. At last, from 1535 on, the painter went to Milan, Porta Romana, and since 1537 he began a co-operator of the building of the Dome. His activity was very intense: Sacred Conversation, The Christening of Jesus, Mourning on Jesus' death, Martyrdom of St. Catherine, frescoes in Sacred Crown, Cartoon of St. Ambrose ad the Last Supper in the Church of St. Mary of the Passion.
We shall also remember the drawings which represent an important corpus where we can hardly distinguish his authentic works from those made by his pupils. The death came upon him in the year 1546, on January 31st.
