Giocondo Albertolli (24 July 1743 – 15 November 1839)
was a
Swiss
Swiss may refer to:
* the adjectival form of Switzerland
* Swiss people
Places
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* Swiss, North Carolina
*Swiss, West Virginia
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Other uses
*Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports
*Swiss Internation ...
-born architect, painter, and sculptor who was active in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
during the
Neoclassical period.
Biography
Albertolli was born into a family of artists in
Bedano, a village 7 km north of the
Ticinese capital
Lugano
Lugano (, , ; lmo, label=Ticinese dialect, Ticinese, Lugan ) is a city and municipality in Switzerland, part of the Lugano District in the canton of Ticino. It is the largest city of both Ticino and the Italian-speaking southern Switzerland. Luga ...
. He studied sculpture in
Parma
Parma (; egl, Pärma, ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmigiano-Reggiano, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,292 ...
, and became known for his ornamental architectural decorations. In 1770, he travelled to
Tuscany
Tuscany ( ; it, Toscana ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence (''Firenze'').
Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, art ...
to work with his brother Grato on the stucco decoration of the
Villa del Poggio Imperiale
Villa del Poggio Imperiale (English: Villa of the Imperial Hill) is a predominantly neoclassical former grand ducal villa in Arcetri, just to the south of Florence in Tuscany, Central Italy. Beginning as a villa of the Baroncelli of Florence, ...
. He then visited Rome and Naples, where he briefly worked with
Carlo Vanvitelli. In 1774, he returned to his family in Bedano; soon he met up with
Giuseppe Piermarini
Giuseppe Piermarini (; 18 July 1734 – 18 February 1808) was an Italian architect who trained with Luigi Vanvitelli in Rome and designed the Teatro alla Scala in Milan (1776–78), which remains the work by which he is remembered. Indeed, "il ...
for whom he collaborated in future stucco decoration of palaces in Milan. From 1775-1779, Piermarini built the Royal Villa at
Monza
Monza (, ; lmo, label=Lombard language, Lombard, Monça, locally ; lat, Modoetia) is a city and ''comune'' on the River Lambro, a tributary of the Po River, Po in the Lombardy region of Italy, about north-northeast of Milan. It is the capit ...
, where Albertolli provided the stucco decoration. Albertolli also worked in the
Palazzo Melzi d'Eril
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whic ...
in Milan and designed (1808-1815) the famed lakeside
Villa Melzi d'Eril in
Bellagio Bellagio may refer to:
* Bellagio, Lombardy, an Italian town
* Bellagio (resort), a luxury resort and casino in Las Vegas
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* 79271 Bellag ...
. He also rebuilt a
Bramante
Donato Bramante ( , , ; 1444 – 11 April 1514), born as Donato di Pascuccio d'Antonio and also known as Bramante Lazzari, was an Italian architect and painter. He introduced Renaissance architecture to Milan and the High Renaissance style ...
sque chapel in Moncucco, called
Shrine of Saint Lucius.
It is acknowledged by many historians that Albertolli contributed to give a new impetus to the art of ornamental design in Italy. He worked on the design of altars, candlesticks, chalices, and lamps for churches. Conversely, he didn't produce many paintings. A
Madonna and Child
In art, a Madonna () is a representation of Mary, either alone or with her child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word is (archaic). The Madonna and Child type is very prevalent in ...
by him is visible in the Milanese church of San Rocco.
In 1776 Albertolli was nominated Professor of ''ornamenti architettonici'' (architectural ornament) at the newly created
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 ...
in
Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
; he held this post for more than a quarter of a century until failing eyesight caused him to resign in 1812.
In 1809
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 ...
made him a
Knight of the Iron Crown.
Albertolli published a number of essays on his art, including:
* ''Ornamenti Diversi'' (1782)
* ''Alcune Decorazioni di Nobili Sale'' (1787)
* ''Miscellanea per i giovanni studioso del disegno'' (1796)
* ''Corso elementare di ornamenti architettonici'' (1805)
Albertolli died in
Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
in 1839 at the age of ninety-six. His son,
Raffaello Raffaello, Raffaele or Raffaellino is an Italian given name. It usually refers to Raphael (a.k.a. Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino), an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance.
Raffaello may also refer to:
* Raffaello (confection), a conf ...
was an engraver. Giocondo's nephew,
Giacomo Albertolli
Giacomo Albertolli (1761 – 6 June 1805) was a Swiss-born architect who was active in Italy during the Neoclassical period.
He was born in Bedano in the province of Ticino. He was the nephew of Giocondo Albertolli, a professor of architecture ...
, was a professor of civil architecture in Padua and later in Milan, where he replaced his former teacher, Piermarini.
Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Albertolli, Giocondo
1743 births
1840 deaths
People from Bedano
Architects from Ticino
18th-century Italian architects
19th-century Italian architects
18th-century Swiss painters
18th-century Swiss male artists
Swiss male painters
19th-century Swiss painters
Architects from Parma
Architects from Milan
Academic staff of Brera Academy
18th-century Swiss architects
19th-century Swiss male artists