Giocondo Albertolli
Encyclopedia
Giocondo Albertolli was a Swiss
-born architect, painter, and sculptor who was active in Italy
during the Neoclassical
period.
He was born into a the family of artists at Bedano
, a village 7km north of the Ticinese
capital Lugano
. He studied at Parma
under a sculptor, and also in the Academy, and became known for his ornamental architectural decorations. In 1776 he was elected professor of ornament at the newly-created Brera Academy
in Milan
; he held this post for more than a quarter of a century until failing eyesight caused him to resign in 1812. In 1809 Napoleon made him a Knight of the Iron Crown. Albertolli was much employed in decorating palaces, churches, and public buildings in Italy, and gave a new impetus to the art of ornamental design in that country. His paintings are scarce. A Madonna and Child by him is in the Milanese church of S. Rocco.
Giocondo Albertolli died in Milan
in 1839 at the age of ninety-six. His son, Rafaello was an engraver.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
-born architect, painter, and sculptor who was active in Italy
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...
during the Neoclassical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
period.
He was born into a the family of artists at Bedano
Bedano
Bedano is a municipality in the district of Lugano in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:During the Middle Ages it was under the jurisdiction of the monastery of S. Ambrogio in Milan, while the Bishop of Como possessed the right to tithe in Bedano.It is part of the parish of Gravesano...
, a village 7km north of the Ticinese
Ticino
Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...
capital Lugano
Lugano
Lugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
. He studied at Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
under a sculptor, and also in the Academy, and became known for his ornamental architectural decorations. In 1776 he was elected professor of ornament at the newly-created Brera Academy
Brera Academy
The Academy of Fine Arts of Brera, also known as Brera Academy is a public academic institution located in Milan, Italy. It was founded in 1776 by HIM Maria Theresa of Austria.- Overview :...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
; he held this post for more than a quarter of a century until failing eyesight caused him to resign in 1812. In 1809 Napoleon made him a Knight of the Iron Crown. Albertolli was much employed in decorating palaces, churches, and public buildings in Italy, and gave a new impetus to the art of ornamental design in that country. His paintings are scarce. A Madonna and Child by him is in the Milanese church of S. Rocco.
Giocondo Albertolli died in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in 1839 at the age of ninety-six. His son, Rafaello was an engraver.