Livio Mehus (1630–1691)

• Was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and engraver.
• Livio Mehus was born in Oudenaarde in Flanders in 1630 as Lieven Mehus.
• When Livio was 10 years old he was called by his father to join him in Milan.

• In Milan Livio trained with an obscure Flemish or Dutch battle and landscape painter who is known by the name Carlo Fiammingo.

• At the age of 15 Livio left on his own for a trip to Rome.

• Before reaching Rome he passed through Pistoia where his talent was recognized.

• He was introduced to a powerful patron, Prince Mattias de' Medici, the governor of Siena.

• In Siena he took drawing classes with the local painter Guiliano Periccioli.

• In Florence the prince arranged for Mehus to work with the important painter Pietro da Cortona who had been in charge of the decoration of the Palazzo Pitti for a few years.

• According to the 17th century Italian biographer Filippo Baldinucci, Mehus served for about three years as a soldier in the wars against Spain in Piedmont and Lombardy.

• He spent about 18 months in Venice from 1650.

• He is recorded in Florence from 1678 until the date of his death in 1691.

• Next