Born Antonio Allegri in 1489, he soon took the name Correggio and became one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. Correggio, from the city of Parma, is known for his sensuous nudes and cool color palette. Correggio was influenced by fellow Renaissance artist Andrea Mantangna and he may have studied that master's work in Mantua. He was also influenced by the art of High Renaissance masters Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael but it is unclear as to whether or not he ever visited the city of Rome to see their works firsthand. It is possible that Correggio only experienced the works of these men by seeing various engravings that were abundant throughout Italy.

At the height of his career while working for the Duke of Mantua, Ferdigo Gonzaga (1530-33), Correggio painted a group of works for presentation to Emperor Charles V representing the loves of Jupiter ("Leda", "Antiope", "Ganymede", and "Io").

Correggio's style seems to anticipate the Baroque at times with their spaciousness and movement, and at others foreshadow the Rococo in their lightness of subject matter. Some 40 canvases of his work exist today, all representing religious and mythological subject matter. Along with these canvases, Correggio is well known for his paintings and compositions on dome ceilings.