Leonello Spada (1576–1622)
• Was an Italian painter of the Baroque period.
• He first apprenticed with painter Cesare Baglioni.
• By the early 17th century, Spada was active, together with Girolamo Curti, as a member of a team specializing in decorative quadratura painting in Bologna.
• In 1604 he made an unsuccessful bid for the commission to decorate the sacristy of the Basilica of Santa Maria di Loreto.
• By then he had already gravitated to the Carracci Academy, having contributed to the decorations for the funeral of Agostino Carracci in 1603.
• He frequently collaborated with other students of Ludovico, especially Francesco Brizio and remained in Bologna until 1607.
• Among his pupils was Pietro Martire Armanni.
• In 1617, he was commissioned by Duke Ranuccio I Farnese, to decorate the newly built Teatro Farnese for Parma.
