GHEZZI, GIUSEPPE. - Painter and draftsman, b. at Comunanza near Ascoli Piceno on 6 Nov. 1634 and d. at Rome on 10 Nov. 1721. He received his first instruction from his father Sebastiano, who had been a follower of Guercino. A pupil at Fermo of a certain Lorenzino, he later went to Rome, where he made himself known with the painting depicting the Souls in Purgatory for the high altar of the church of the Suffragio (before 1674).
Admitted to the Accademia di S. Luca, he was elected its secretary, soon acquiring renown and prestige, to the point of being sought after by noblemen for the purchase of their paintings and for the restoration of works of art. He thus came to exercise considerable influence in his time, certainly exceeding his actual artistic merits as a modest follower of Pietro da Cortona. Among his Roman works may be recalled: S. Stefano and s. Lorenzo (signed and dated 1676) at S. Cecilia; five paintings on the ceiling of the chapel of S. Francesco Solano at the Aracoeli (1675-86); S. Giuseppe with Gesù Bambino adored by s. Nicola and s. Biagio in S. Maria in Via Lata (1686); Creazione d'Adamo; Risurrezione dei morti; La Maddalena and Rebecca for S. Maria in Vallicella (c. 1700). He left other works in Ascoli Piceno and the surrounding area.