Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena (18 August 1657 – 3 January 1743),"Galli-Bibiena, Ferdinando" (dates, Farnese dynasty, to Barcelona for Karl VI),''Encyclopedia of Austria'', 2006, aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at webpag

."Ferdinando Galli Bibiena Online" (overview), John Malyon, ''Artcyclopedia'', 2005, Artcyclopedia.com webpag

surname also spelled Galli da Bibiena or Bibbiena, was an Italian

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...

-era architect, designer, and

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

."Bibiena, Galli da, Family" (history),''Encyclopædia Britannica Online'', 18-November-2006, Britannica.com webpag
EB-Bibienas

Biography

Bibiena was born on 18 August 1657 at Bologna. He was the son of

Giovanni Maria Galli Giovanni Maria Galli (1625–1665), called Giovanni Maria da Bibiena, was an Italian painter, born at Bibiena in 1625. He studied under Albani, and his productions have often been mistaken for those of his master. He died in 1665. Of his larger ...

(1625–1665), and he studied painting under Carlo Cignani and architecture under Giulio Trogli, called ''il Paradosso''. On the recommendation of Cignani, Bibiena entered into the service of the duke of Parma and also worked for the Farnese dynasty at Piacenza over a period of 30 years. His main work during this time was the garden and villa of Colorno, but he also earned a reputation for his scenic designs and began working for the theatre. In 1708, Bibiena was called to Barcelona to organize the decorations in connection with the wedding festivities of the future Holy Roman emperor Charles VI. Following his accession, Bibiena traveled to Vienna, where he worked on designs of scenery and decorations for court festivities and opera performances. In his decorations for the theatre and festivities, Bibiena replaced the central (vertical) axis with a diagonal axis, introducing an angular perspective. In the competition to select a design and architect for the construction of the

Karlskirche The ''Rektoratskirche St. Karl Borromäus'', commonly called the ''Karlskirche'' (), is a Baroque church located on the south side of Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria. Widely considered the most outstanding baroque church in Vienna, as well as one ...

, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach was chosen over Bibiena. He returned to Bologna in 1716, where in 1717, he was elected as a member of the Clementine Academy. In 1731, Bibiena built the royal theatre of Mantua (which burned down 50 years later, in 1781). He produced several books, including: :* ''L'Architettura civile'' (1711; "Civil Architecture"), later reissued under various titles :* ''Varie opere di prospettiva'' (1703–1708; "Various Works of Perspective"). Past the age of 86, Bibiena died on 3 January 1743.

Family

The ''Galli-Bibiena'' family derives its name from the

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

and birthplace of

(1625–1665), who was born at Bibbiena ( Italy) outside Florence. Giovanni studied painting under Francesco Albani and laid the foundations of an artistry which was continued by his descendants, who dedicated themselves to scenic work (with set design) for the theatre. For example, Ferdinando's second son, Antonio, was well regarded, like his father, as a ''pittore scenico'' or ''teatrale'', active in the arts of ''arte scenografica''. Using the highly ornate style of late Baroque sculpture and architecture, the members of the ''Galli-Bibiena'' family produced a series of theatrical and other designs that are exceptional for their intricate splendour and spacious proportions achieved by detailed perspective. Among their followers was

Francesco Zinani Francesco, the Italian (and original) version of the personal name "Francis", is the most common given name among males in Italy. Notable persons with that name include: People with the given name Francesco * Francesco I (disambiguation), sever ...

Reggio Emilia Reggio nell'Emilia ( egl, Rèz; la, Regium Lepidi), usually referred to as Reggio Emilia, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, and known until 1861 as Reggio di Lombardia, is a city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has abou ...

. From about 1690 to 1787, eight Bibienas designed and painted for many of the courts of Europe with intricate settings for operas, weddings, and funerals. The

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

s were their most generous patrons. Among his followers or artists in his studio was

Domenico Francia Domenico Francia (1702–1758) was an Italian painter and architect. He was born in Bologna, the son of the engraver Francesco Maria Domenico Francia, and studied under Ferdinando Galli (called Bibiena), whom he assisted in his paintings at V ...

Notes

References

* A. H. Mayor, ''The Bibiena Family'', 1940.

External links

Architectural and ornament drawings : Juvarra, Vanvitelli, the Bibiena family, & other Italian draughtsmen
an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Galli-Bibiena (see index) {{DEFAULTSORT:Galli-Bibiena Ferdinando 1656 births 1743 deaths 18th-century Italian architects 17th-century Italian painters Italian male painters 18th-century Italian painters Italian scenic designers Artists from Bologna Architects from Bologna 18th-century Italian male artists