Andrea Appiani (31 May 17548 November 1817) was an Italian
neoclassical painter.
Life
Born in Milan, it had been intended that he follow his father's career in medicine but instead entered the private academy of the painter
Carlo Maria Giudici (1723–1804) where he received instruction in drawing, copying mainly from sculpture and prints. From there, he then joined the class of the fresco painter
Antonio de' Giorgi, which was held at the
Ambrosiana picture gallery in Milan. At the same time, he also frequented the studio of
Martin Knoller, where his knowledge of painting in oils was deepened. Also, he studied anatomy at the
Ospedale Maggiore
The Policlinico of Milan ( it, Policlinico di Milano) also known as Ospedale Maggiore di Milano or Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, is one of the oldest hospitals in Italy, founded by Duke Francesco Sforza in 1456. Today it is a modern ...
in Milan with the sculptor
Gaetano Monti.
Appiani's interest in aesthetic issues was stimulated by the classical poet
Giuseppe Parini
Giuseppe Parini (23 May 1729 – 15 August 1799) was an Italian enlightenment satirist and poet of the neoclassic period.
Biography
Parini (originally spelled Parino) was born in Bosisio (later renamed Bosisio Parini in his honour) in Brianza ...
, whom he drew in two fine pencil portraits. In 1776 he entered the
Brera Academy
The Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera ("academy of fine arts of Brera"), also known as the or Brera Academy, is a state-run tertiary public academy of fine arts in Milan, Italy. It shares its history, and its main building, with the Pinacoteca di ...
of Fine Arts to follow the painting courses of
Giulio Traballesi, receiving a mastery of the fresco technique. Among his masterpieces are the frescoes depicting the four evangelists and doctors of the church that he painted for the cupola and pendentives for the church of
Santa Maria presso San Celso in 1795 and the fresco with ''The Parnassus'', representing Apollo and the Muses, on the ceiling of the dining room of
Royal Villa of Milan
The Villa Belgiojoso Bonaparte, also known as Villa Reale and formerly called Villa Comunale, is a palace in Milan, in Lombardy in northern Italy. It was built between 1790 and 1796 as the residence of Count Ludovico Barbiano di Belgiojoso. The vi ...
. Another masterpiece are the frescoes depicting ''Allegories of Virtues'' and others honoring Napoleon in the rooms of the
Royal Palace of Milan
The Royal Palace of Milan (Italian: ''Palazzo Reale di Milano'') was the seat of government in the Italian city of Milan for many centuries. Today, it serves as a cultural centre and it is home to international art exhibitions.
It spans through ...
.
Although created a pensioned artist to the
Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy ( it, Regno d'Italia) was a state that existed from 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia was proclaimed King of Italy, until 1946, when civil discontent led to an institutional referendum to abandon the monarchy and f ...
by
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
, Appiani lost his allowance after the fall of the Kingdom in 1814 and fell into poverty.
During his period as
court painter
A court painter was an artist who painted for the members of a royal or princely family, sometimes on a fixed salary and on an exclusive basis where the artist was not supposed to undertake other work. Painters were the most common, but the cour ...
he rendered portraits of Napoleon and the chief personages of his regime, among the most graceful of which are his oil paintings ''Venus and Love'', and ''Rinaldo in the garden of Armida''.
He is known as "the elder", to distinguish him from his great-nephew Andrea Appiani, an historical painter in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
.
Appiani painted a large canvas of the ''Encounter of Rachel and Jacob'' for a church in
Alzano.
The Brera has a fresco by Appiani representing Olympus.
He died at Milan in 1817.
Among his pupils are
Antonio De Antoni,
Carlo Prajer,
Angelo Monticelli, and
Giuseppe Bossi.
[*]
Gallery
Andrea Appiani - Nicolas Frochot.jpg,
Andrea Appiani - General Desaix - WGA00782.jpg,
Andrea Appiani Ritratto di Ugo Foscolo Pinacoteca di Brera 1801-1802.jpg,
Joséphine de Beauharnais by Andrea Appiani.png,
Joséphine Reine d'Italie by Andrea Appiani.png,
Andrea Appiani - The Olympus - WGA0784.jpg,
Andrea Appiani - Hercules at the crossroads.jpg,
Andrea Appiani (circle) Jupiter und Merkur bei Philemon und Baucis.jpg,
File:Appiani, Andrea I - Head of Laocoon - Google Art Project.jpg, Head of Laocoön
Laocoön (; grc, , Laokóōn, , gen.: ), is a figure in Greek and Roman mythology and the Epic Cycle. Laocoon was a Trojan priest. He and his two young sons were attacked by giant serpents, sent by the gods. The story of Laocoön has been the su ...
, about 1790
Andrea Appiani 003.jpg, Eugène Beauharnais, portrait by Appiani, 1800.
Santa Maria dei Miracoli 11.JPG,
Villa reale, Milano - Andrea Appiani (1754–1817), il Parnaso, Apollo e le Muse (Carlo Dell'Orto) 19.JPG,
References
Notes:
Sources:
*
* Domenico Sedini
Andrea Appiani online catalogu
Artgateby
Fondazione Cariplo
Fondazione Cariplo is a charitable foundation in Milan, Italy. It was created in December 1991 when the Amato law, Law no. 218 of 30 July 1990, came into force. Under this law, saving banks were required to separate into a not-for-profit fou ...
, 2010, CC BY-SA.
External links
Appiani, Andrea
{{DEFAULTSORT:Appiani, Andrea
1754 births
1817 deaths
18th-century Italian painters
Italian male painters
19th-century Italian painters
Italian neoclassical painters
Italian muralists
Court painters
Painters from Milan
Brera Academy alumni
19th-century Italian male artists
18th-century Italian male artists