Carlo Cignani
Encyclopedia
Carlo Cignani was an Italian
painter of the Bolognese
and of the Forlivese school, active in the Baroque
period.
He was born to a noble family in Bologna
, where he studied first under Battista Cairo and later under Francesco Albani
, to whom he remained closely allied, and was his most famous disciple. He was, however, also strongly influenced by the genius of Correggio
, and by the masterworks by Melozzo da Forlì
. For instance, his masterpiece, the Assumption of the Virgin, around the cupola of the church of the Madonna del Fuoco at Forlì
, is inspired by the Correggio's frescoes in the cupola of the Cathedral of Parma
and by the Melozzo's perspective
from down to up. These frescoes occupied Cignani for some twenty years.
In 1681, Cignani returned to Bologna from Parma. He opened an accademia del nudo for painting from models and had as one of his pupils Giuseppe Maria Crespi.
He had some of the defects of his masters: his elaborate finish and his audacious artificiality in the use of color and in composition mark Albani's influence. Despite that, he imparted to his work more of an intellectual character than his mentors. As a man Cignani was eminently amiable, unassuming and generous.
He accepted no honors offered him by the duke of Parma, but lived and died an artist. In 1686 he moved to Forlì, where he died. When the Accademia Clementina for Bolognese artists was founded in 1706, Cignani was posthumously elected Principe in absencia for life. His most famous pictures, in addition to the Assumption already cited, are the Entry of Paul III into Bologna; the Francis I Touching for Kings Evil; a Power of Love, painted under a fine ceiling by Agostino Carracci
, on the walls of a room in the ducal palace at Parma; an Adam and Eve (at The Hague
); and two of Joseph and Potiphars Wife (at Dresden and Copenhagen).
His son Felice Cignani
(1660–1724) and nephew Paolo Cignani (1709–1764) were also painters. His most noted pupils were Marcantonio Franceschini
and Federico Bencovich. Other pupils include Giacomo Boni
, Andrea and Francesco Bondi; Giovanni Girolamo Bonesi
; Girolamo Domini; Francesco Galli; Bonaventura Lamberti
; Matteo Lamboni; Camilla Lauteri; Stefano Maria Legnani
; Charles Lucy (1692 - after 1767), Francesco Mancini
; and Paolo Antonio Paderna
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
painter of the Bolognese
Bolognese School (painting)
The Bolognese School or the School of Bologna of painting flourished in Bologna, the capital of Emilia Romagna, between the 16th and 17th centuries in Italy, and rivalled Florence and Rome as the center of painting. Its most important representatives include the Carracci family, including Ludovico...
and of the Forlivese school, active in the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
period.
He was born to a noble family in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, where he studied first under Battista Cairo and later under Francesco Albani
Francesco Albani
Francesco Albani or Albano was an Italian Baroque painter.-Early years in Bologna:Born 1578 in Bologna, his father was a silk merchant who intended to instruct his son in the same trade; but by age twelve, Albani became an apprentice under the competent mannerist painter Denis Calvaert, where he...
, to whom he remained closely allied, and was his most famous disciple. He was, however, also strongly influenced by the genius of Correggio
Antonio da Correggio
Antonio Allegri da Correggio , usually known as Correggio, was the foremost painter of the Parma school of the Italian Renaissance, who was responsible for some of the most vigorous and sensuous works of the 16th century...
, and by the masterworks by Melozzo da Forlì
Melozzo da Forlì
Melozzo da Forlì was an Italian Renaissance painter and architect. His fresco paintings are notable for the use of foreshortening. He was the most important member of the Forlì painting school.- Biography :...
. For instance, his masterpiece, the Assumption of the Virgin, around the cupola of the church of the Madonna del Fuoco at Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
, is inspired by the Correggio's frescoes in the cupola of the Cathedral of Parma
Cathedral of Parma
Parma Cathedral is a cathedral church in Parma, Emilia-Romagna . It is an important Italian Romanesque cathedral: the dome, in particular, is decorated by a highly influential illusionistic fresco by Renaissance painter Antonio da Correggio....
and by the Melozzo's perspective
Perspective (visual)
Perspective, in context of vision and visual perception, is the way in which objects appear to the eye based on their spatial attributes; or their dimensions and the position of the eye relative to the objects...
from down to up. These frescoes occupied Cignani for some twenty years.
In 1681, Cignani returned to Bologna from Parma. He opened an accademia del nudo for painting from models and had as one of his pupils Giuseppe Maria Crespi.
He had some of the defects of his masters: his elaborate finish and his audacious artificiality in the use of color and in composition mark Albani's influence. Despite that, he imparted to his work more of an intellectual character than his mentors. As a man Cignani was eminently amiable, unassuming and generous.
He accepted no honors offered him by the duke of Parma, but lived and died an artist. In 1686 he moved to Forlì, where he died. When the Accademia Clementina for Bolognese artists was founded in 1706, Cignani was posthumously elected Principe in absencia for life. His most famous pictures, in addition to the Assumption already cited, are the Entry of Paul III into Bologna; the Francis I Touching for Kings Evil; a Power of Love, painted under a fine ceiling by Agostino Carracci
Agostino Carracci
Agostino Carracci was an Italian painter and printmaker. He was the brother of the more famous Annibale and cousin of Lodovico Carracci....
, on the walls of a room in the ducal palace at Parma; an Adam and Eve (at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
); and two of Joseph and Potiphars Wife (at Dresden and Copenhagen).
His son Felice Cignani
Felice Cignani
Felice Cignani was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Bologna. He was a pupil and son of the painter Carlo Cignani. Felice helped train his cousin, Paolo Cignani .-References:...
(1660–1724) and nephew Paolo Cignani (1709–1764) were also painters. His most noted pupils were Marcantonio Franceschini
Marcantonio Franceschini
Marcantonio Franceschini , was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mostly in his native Bologna. He was the father and teacher of Giacomo Franceschini.-Biography :...
and Federico Bencovich. Other pupils include Giacomo Boni
Giacomo Boni (painter)
Giacomo Boni was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque period, active mainly in Genoa.He was born in Bologna, and became a pupil of Marcantonio Franceschini, and later of the painter Carlo Cignani in Forlì. He returned and followed Franceschini to Genoa, then Crema, Piacenza, Lavino, Parma, and...
, Andrea and Francesco Bondi; Giovanni Girolamo Bonesi
Giovanni Girolamo Bonesi
Giovanni Girolamo Bonesi was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He was born in Bologna. He was the pupil of the painter Giovanni Maria Viani, but followed the style of Carlo Cignani. He painted a St. Francis of Sales kneeling before the Virgin for the church of San Marino; a St...
; Girolamo Domini; Francesco Galli; Bonaventura Lamberti
Bonaventura Lamberti
Bonaventura Lamberti was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Rome. He was born at Carpi,and after some years working at Modena, he became a pupil of the painter Carlo Cignani in Rome. There he painted St. Francis of Paola resuscitating a dead Child for the church of the...
; Matteo Lamboni; Camilla Lauteri; Stefano Maria Legnani
Stefano Maria Legnani
Stefano Maria Legnani , also known as "Legnanino", was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Milan. He was a pupil of his father, the painter Ambrogio Legnani. He then went on to work in the studio of Carlo Cignani in Bologna, and Carlo Maratta in Rome. In Novara, he painted...
; Charles Lucy (1692 - after 1767), Francesco Mancini
Francesco Mancini (painter)
]Francesco Mancini was an Italian painter whose works are known between 1719 and 1756. He was the pupil of Carlo Cignani.-Biography:...
; and Paolo Antonio Paderna
Paolo Antonio Paderna
Paolo Antonio Paderna was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. Born in Bologna, he was a pupil of the painter Guercino, then of Carlo Cignani.-References:...
.
Anthology of works
- Magdalen - Dulwich Picture GalleryDulwich Picture GalleryDulwich Picture Gallery is an art gallery in Dulwich, South London. England's first purpose-built public art gallery, it was designed by Regency architect Sir John Soane and opened to the public in 1817. Soane arranged the exhibition spaces as a series of interlinked rooms illuminated naturally...
http://dulwich-ke-ext.atticmedia.com/web/pages/common/imagedisplay.php?irn=977&reftable=ecatalogue&refirn=184 - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Carlo_Cignani_001.jpg Joseph and Potiphar's Wife] (c. 1680) - Oil on canvas, 99 x 99 cm, Gemäldegalerie, DresdenDresdenDresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
- Joseph and Potiphar's Wife - Musee Fesch, Ajaccio http://www.musee-fesch.com/html/collection_permanente/collection/english/central_northern_italy.html
- Charity - Oil on canvas, 119.4 x 161.3 cm, San Francisco Museum of Arthttp://search.famsf.org:8080/view.shtml?keywords=%43%69%67%6E%61%6E%69&artist=&country=&period=&sort=&start=1&position=2&record=64218
- Allegory of Spring - Oil on canvas, Galleria Spada, RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
http://www.italica.rai.it/index.php?categoria=arte&scheda=ariccia_cignani&lingua=ita
- Judgement of Paris (1691) - Oil on canvas, 130.5 x 161 cm, http://www.alcoleaantiguedades.com/pa.cignani.htm
- Aurora, Circolo della Scranna, ForlìForlìForlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
http://www.circolodellascranna.it/opere.htm