Moroni, Giovanni Battista, c.1525-1578, Italian portrait painter of the Brescian school; pupil of Il Moretto. Surpassing his teacher in the ability to capture the expression of the model, Moroni excelled in portraying with tasteful intimacy the aristocratic men and women of his day. He depicted them realistically but with a Venetian flair for style. There are notable examples of his art in the National Gallery, London; the Metropolitan Museum; the Philadelphia Museum; and the Uffizi.

Moroni, town (1990 pop. 23,432), capital of Comoros, on Njazidja (formerly Grande Comore) island, at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, an arm of the Indian Ocean. Moroni is the largest city, main port, and administrative center of the islands. Manufactures include beverages, wood and metal products, cement, soap, plastic products, and lumber. Exports include vanilla, coffee, and cacao. It is the site of Iconi Airport and the Palais du Peuple cultural center. Hahaya International Airport is nearby.

Town (pop., 1995: 340,168), capital of the Comoros Islands, located on Grande Comore (Njazidja) island in the Indian Ocean. Founded by Arabic-speaking settlers, it is the largest settlement of the Comoros and has served as the capital since 1958. The port of Moroni consists of a small quay in a natural cove. The town retains an Arabic character and has several mosques, including Chiounda, a pilgrimage centre.

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