Gaulli

Gaulli is an Italian surname, most notably associated with Giovanni Battista Gaulli (1639–1709), a prominent Baroque painter who worked primarily in Rome. He is commonly known by the nickname Baciccio.

Gaulli’s best-known achievement is his ceiling frescoes in the Church of the Gesù in Rome, particularly The Triumph of the Name of Jesus. Painted in the late 17th century, the work exemplifies the Baroque fascination with illusionistic space, dramatic light, and a sense of ascent toward the heavens. The fresco combines painted figures, architectural details, and a radiant, blended luminosity to create the impression that the heavens open above the viewer.

In addition to his high-profile ceiling piece, Gaulli produced altarpieces and other frescoes for churches in Rome and across Italy. His work is characterized by vigorous composition, strong chiaroscuro, and a theatrical use of light and color that aligns with the era’s devotion to dynamism and emotion in religious art. Gaulli’s paintings reflect the broader Roman Baroque program of integrating painting with architecture to produce immersive spiritual experiences.

Gaulli’s legacy endures in the tradition of illusionistic ceiling painting and in the continued association of the name Baciccio with a distinctive, high-drama Baroque visual language. He remains a key figure in discussions of late 17th-century Italian ecclesiastical art.