Pietro Novelli

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Pietro Novelli (1603-1647) was a Sicilian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Palermo. Also known as il Monrealese or Pietro "Malta" Novelli to distinguish him from his father.

He was born in Monreale, and died in Palermo. He initially trained with his father, Pietro Antonio Novelli, a painter and mosaicist, then in 1618, he moved to Palermo and apprenticed with with Vito Carrera (1555–1623). His first dated work is from 1626: St Anthony Abbot for the church of S Antonio Abate). The development of his style owed much to Anthony van Dyck, who visited Sicily in 1624 and whose altarpiece, the Madonna of the Rosary in the oratory of S Maria del Rosario in Palermo was highly influential. In addition, the influence of the Carravagisti or tenebrists of Neapolitan (for example, Ribera). His pupils included Francesco Maggiotto. He was also an architect and stage set designer.