Giocondo Albertolli (24 July 1743 – 15 November 1839) was a

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin 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 * Bellagio (Hong Kong), a private housing building * Bellagio declaration, an intellectual copyright resolution * 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 ...

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

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

* * {{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