Giacinto Platania

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Giacinto Platania (c. 1612–1691) was an Italian painter from Acireale. He learned his craft from his father, Antonio Platania, who in 1630 painted a Guardian Angel for Acireale Cathedral. Platania left a notable record of the 1669 eruption of Mount Etna, decorating the sacristy of the Cathedral of Catania with frescoes that document how he helped organize processions and prayers to steer the lava away from the town, though the lava caused damage and restorations have been imperfect. In Acireale he produced many works for local churches, including the Transit of St Joseph, a St Simon Stock, a San Antonio Abate, a St Anthony of Padua, and a portrait of Monsignor Branciforte; he also painted an Enthroned Madonna (1661) signed Hyacintus Patania, San Biagio e San Martino in the church of San Biagio, a Saint Venera and Saint Agatha in the church of Indirizzo, San Cirino e San Crispino in Santa Maria degli Agonizzanti, and San Mauro in the church of Acicastello (1681, signed Hyacintus Platania). His Last Supper was once in the refectory of the Cappuccini and is now in the Galleria Zelantea. Platania also taught pupils Baldassare Grasso and Giovanni Lo Coco.