The Intimate Realism of Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo, a name perhaps less immediately recognizable than his High Renaissance contemporaries, nevertheless occupies a crucial position in the transition from the idealized forms of that era to the more psychologically nuanced and emotionally direct painting of the 16th century. Born in Brescia around 1480 – though precise dates remain elusive – Savoldo’s artistic jo…