life and career cristoforo cortese, a 15th-century venetian miniaturist, illuminator, and head of the veneto school of illumination, left an indelible mark on the art world. born in italy around 1399, cortese is widely regarded as the most notable and prolific venetian illuminator of the first half of the fifteenth century. artistic contributions throughout his career, cristoforo cortese produced a number of religious, secular, and cla…