1480-81. Probable date of Gaudenzio’s birth at Valduggia. Father’s name, Antonio Lanfranco or Fracchino; mother’s family name, Vincio (of Varallo) both dead before 1510.
1494-98. Went to Milan and studied under Stefano Scotto and Luini.
1498. Possible date of a ” Pietà ” in fresco in the cloisters of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Varallo.
1503. Fresco on wall of the Chapel of the Pietà, Sacro Monte, Varallo, originally Chapel of the Journey to Calvary.
1507. Frescoes in the Chapel of St. Margaret in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Varallo.
1508. Probable year of Gaudenzio’s marriage. On July 26 he signed a contract at Vercelli to paint a picture for the Confraternity of Sant” Anna. He is called ” maestro,” and described as ” Gaudentius de’ Varali.” Eusebio Ferrari is mentioned in the deed as witness for Gaudenzio. The picture was to be ready by Easter, 1509. It has disappeared.
1509. On May 7 Gaudenzio signed a receipt for payment for the above-mentioned work, in the Church of St. Agnes, probably at Vercelli. His son Gerolamo was born this year.
1510. On February 25 Gaudenzio signed a contract for an ancona for the Church of Santa Maria at Arona. To be ready by Easter in the next year.
1511. On June 5 and July z6 Gaudenzio signed documents relative to the above-mentioned ancona at Arona. 1512. His daughter Margaret was born this year.
1513. Gaudenzio finished the great screen in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Varallo.
1514. On July 20 he signed a contract to paint an ancona for the Church of San Gaudenzio at Novara. To be finished in eighteen months.
1515. On May 4 he signed a receipt for a part of the sum due for the above-mentioned ancona at Novara.
1516. On December 23 he signed receipt for part payment of San Gaudenzio ancona at Novara.
1518. Gaudenzio signed a document relative to the payment of the San Gaudenzio ancona at Novara on January 18.
1520. On May 29 Gaudenzio signed a receipt for part payment for the altar-piece at Morbegno, in the Valtellina.
1521. On January 9 he signed a contract relative to Joseph Giovenone, who is to begin his apprenticeship under Gaudenzio on February 13 following. On February 5 he signed a receipt for further payment of the San Gaudenzio ancona at Novara. On October 14 Gaudenzio signed receipt for part payment of the ancona at Morbegno.
1524. On March 8 and July 21 he signed receipts for payments at Morbegno.
1525. On May 9 Gaudenzio signed a document as witness at Vercelli. On August 12, September 7 and 16, and October 7, he signed receipts for payments at Morbegno.
1526. On January 26 Gaudenzio signed receipt for payment at Morbegno.
1528. Early this year Gaudenzio married for a second time, and went to live at Vercelli. The following documents are dated from that place : On July 24 he signed a deed as witness. On October 13 he signed a contract for an altar-piece for the Church of Santa Trinita, to be ready by August 1, 1529. This picture has disappeared. On November 8 he signed a deed as witness.
1529. On June 27 Gaudenzio signed the contract for the altar-piece in St. Christopher, Vercelli. On July 3 he signed a contract with a wood-carver for the frame of the above-mentioned altar-piece.
1530. On February 3 he signed a deed as witness in the Convent of San Marco, Vercelli. On July 12 he signed a deed as witness. In the same document are the names of his son Gerolamo and of Bernardino Lanino. On July 24 Gaudenzio signed a deed as witness. On December 2 he signed a contract for an ancona for the Church of San Marco, Vercelli. It was to be ready by June 31, 1531. This picture has disappeared.
1531. On February 23 Gaudenzio signed receipt for part payment of the above-mentioned ancona.
1532. On January 14 and 19 and on August 7 and 19 he signed receipts for payments of the altar-piece for the cathedral at Casale Monferrato. On May 4 Gaudenzio signed a deed in which his son Gerolamo appears as witness. On August 14 Gaudenzio signed a deed in which he makes himself guarantee for his stepson. A document dated November z, relative to his daughter’s marriage and dot, is signed by Gaudenzio and his son Gerolamo: The money is secured by a mortgage on his houses at Varallo, and is to be paid in four instalments. On November 3 Gaudenzio signed the contract for the frescoes representing the life of the Virgin in the Church of St. Christopher, Varallo.
1533. In the list of expenses during the first four months of 1533, kept by the Duke of Milan’s intendant at Vigevano, is the following entry : ” A Maestro Gaudentio pittore in Vigevano lire 63.”
1534. On July 9 Gaudenzio signed a document relative to the Casale altar-piece, which is to be finished and sent off in the following September. Signed at Vercelli. On September 20 Gaudenzio met the deputies from Saronno at Milan, and signed a contract to paint the cupola of Santa Maria di Saronno. He was to begin the next Easter, and to receive 200 écus d’or. Signed at Milan.
1535. On October 4 Gaudenzio signed a deed as witness at Vercelli. This is the last notice of him in that town.
1536. On June 1 r and November 17 Gaudenzio signed receipts for payments for the Saronno work. Name of place is not mentioned, but it was probably Saronno.
1539. On August 8 Gaudenzio signed a document relative to his wife’s property. This and the following documents are all signed at Milan. On August 9 he signed a deed selling his house at Varallo for 700 livres. On September 22 he signed a document appointing an agent at Morbegno to administer his wife’s property. On October r Gaudenzio and another artist arbitrate in a quarrel between a patron and an artist. On October 8 the decision relative to the above-mentioned arbitration was signed.
1540. On January z0 Gaudenzio signed a receipt for the final payment for his house at Varallo. On March 27 he signed a deed making his stepson agent at Morbegno.
1543. On July 4 Gaudenzio and Della Cerva take a house for three years. Picture of St. Paul, now in the Louvre, was painted this year.
1544. A document dated February 18, and relative to the ” Last Supper ” in the Church of the Passionists at Milan, mentions three payments made to Gaudenzio and Della Cerva, and one to the frame-maker.
1545. Entries made in the Saronno archives during this year prove that Gaudenzio and his assistants painted the four tondos under the cupola during this year ; also an ” Assumption of the Virgin,” which was destroyed in later times to make room for the organ.
1546. Death of Gaudenzio Ferrari, January 31.