Giovanni Pietro Magni, aka Pietro Magno (2 May 1655 – 1722/1724) was a German stuccoist born in
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. He decorated many buildings across
central Germany in the late 1600s and early 1700s, particularly under the patronage of the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg.
Biography
Giovanni Pietro Magni was born on 2 may 1655 in
Bruzella, a settlement on the eastern outskirts of
Mendrisio
Mendrisio (; lmo, label= Ticinese, Mendris ) is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
Mendrisio is the seat of the Accademia di Architettura of the university of Italian-speaking Switzerland (U ...
in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking
Ticino
Ticino (), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino,, informally ''Canton Ticino'' ; lmo, Canton Tesin ; german: Kanton Tessin ; french: Canton du Tessin ; rm, Chantun dal Tessin . ...
canton, to Giovanni Pietro Magni and Marta Parravicini. His family was connected with various other artistic families in the valley of the
Muggio
Muggio was a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Bruzella, Cabbio, Caneggio, Morbio Superiore, Muggio and Sagno merged into the municipality of Breggia.
...
, including the Pozzis, Bernasconis and Salterios. He married Ursula, the daughter of the architect Carlo Salterio and his wife Angelica, with whom he had at least four children.
Magni studied under the sculptor Agostino Silva in
Morbio Inferiore
Morbio Inferiore is a municipality in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland in the hills above Chiasso. It is located in the district of Mendrisio.
History
Morbio Inferiore is first mentioned in 1148 as ''Morbio Subteriori''. In 1198 it was ment ...
, and completed his education 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 ...
where he worked alongside other Ticinese sculptors such as Antonio Raggi and Ercole Ferrata.
By 1686, Magni had arrived in
Franconia
Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian dialect (German: ''Fränkisch'').
The three administrative regions of Lower, Middle and Upper Fr ...
, where he was associated with the architect Antonio Petrini. By 1700, he became court stuccoist to
Prince-Bishop of Würzburg,
Johan Philipp von Greifenclau zu Vollraths, for whom he carried out much of his best work, including the elaborate and large-scale baroque stucco interior of the Kiliansdom (
Würzburg Cathedral
Würzburg Cathedral (german: Würzburger Dom) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany, dedicated to Saint Kilian. It is the seat of the Bishop of Würzburg and has served as the burial place for the Prince-Bishops of Würzb ...
, mostly collapsed due to bomb damage in 1946 and subsequently restored). Magni's work here has been described as "the most important example of the Italian stucco baroque in Franconia".
He returned to his homeland, probably on the death of his patron Bishop Johan Philipp in 1719, and died in either 1722 or 1724 in
Castel San Pietro
Castel San Pietro is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
History
Castel San Pietro is first mentioned in 1171 as ''Castellum Sancti Petri''. A settlement near the village was mentioned in 865, ...
.
Works
* The hall of
Elisabethenburg Palace in Meiningen (1686).
* Collegiate Church of the Cistercian Abbey in Waldsassen (1688).
* Cistercian Abbey in Ebrach (1694).
* Convent of Michelsberg, Bamberg (1697-1699).
*
Cathedral of Saint Kilian (the ''Kiliansdom'') in Würzburg (1701-1706).
* Juliusspital Prince's Room (''Fürstenzimmer''), hospital and garden pavilion, Würzburg (1707-8).
* Various sites between Würzburg and Bamberg (1700s - 1720s)
* Church of Saint John the Baptist in Mendrisio (1722-1723).
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magni, Giovanni Pietro
1655 births
Swiss people of Italian descent
People from Lugano
Swiss artists
1720s deaths