Born near Naples 1707, Died Naples 1789. Bonito became one of the most influential artists of the Neapolitan school in the 18th century. He developed a personal neo-Baroque style characterised by sweeping movement, bold chiaroscuro and saturated palette reminiscent of Luca Giordano. During the 1740s he became a successful court portraitist and during the 1750s was active as a designer and artistic adviser to the Bourbon court. In the late 1750s his religious paintings became more Rococo in style and spirit with paler tones and exaggerated perspectives.