Lorenzo Ottoni
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Ottoni was an Italian
sculptor
who was commissioned by the papacy and various noble houses
of renaissance
Italy
.
in 1658 and spent the majority of his life in the city.
He trained at the famous studio of Ercole Ferrata
and later opened his own studio which counted Bernardino Cametti
among its students. His large number of assistants meant he was also able to complete commissions outside Rome.
He is best known for his Baroque
religious sculptures of the Counter-Reformation
renovation of Rome. He also created sculptural portraits of high-ranking church officials of his time. Ottoni benefitted greatly from his Catholic contemporaries; enthusiastic patrons of the arts.
Ottoni received many commissions from the powerful Barberini
family during the 1670s and 1680s. These include marble sculptural portraits of Cardinal Francesco Barberini
, Cardinal Antonio Barberini
and their nephew Maffeo Barberini, as well as busts of Barberini Pope Urban VIII
and Pope Alexander VIII
.
Between the 1690s and about 1718, using bronze and stucco, he contributed to the sculptural decoration of the Chapel of the Baptisterium, transept, and chapels at St. Peter's Basilica
, the chapel of Sant'Ignazio in the church of Il Gesù and the Basilica of St. John Lateran
.
Ottoni was elected in 1691 to the Accademia di San Luca
in Rome and a short time later to the Congregazione dei Virtuosi al Pantheon (Assembly of Illustrious Artists), Rome's two most prestigious artists' organizations.
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...
sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
who was commissioned by the papacy and various noble houses
Nobility of Italy
The Nobility of Italy consisted of individuals and their families of Italy recognized by sovereigns, such as the Holy Roman Emperor, the Holy See, Kings of Italy or certain other Italian kings and sovereigns as members of a class of persons officially enjoying hereditary privileges which...
of renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
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...
.
Life
Ottoni was born in RomeRome
Rome 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...
in 1658 and spent the majority of his life in the city.
He trained at the famous studio of Ercole Ferrata
Ercole Ferrata
Ercole Ferrata was an Italian sculptor of the Roman Baroque.-Biography:A native of Pellio Inferiore, near Como, Ferrata initially apprenticed with Alessandro Algardi, and became one of his prime assistants...
and later opened his own studio which counted Bernardino Cametti
Bernardino Cametti
Bernardino Cametti was an Italian sculptor of the late Baroque .Cametti was born in Rome. Among his earliest works was a marble relief of the Canonization of St Ignatius for the church of the Gesù, based on a design by Andrea Pozzo, and a monument to Count Vladislav Constantine Wasa’’ ,...
among its students. His large number of assistants meant he was also able to complete commissions outside Rome.
He is best known for his 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...
religious sculptures of the Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
renovation of Rome. He also created sculptural portraits of high-ranking church officials of his time. Ottoni benefitted greatly from his Catholic contemporaries; enthusiastic patrons of the arts.
Ottoni received many commissions from the powerful Barberini
Barberini
The Barberini are a family of the Italian nobility that rose to prominence in 17th century Rome. Their influence peaked with the election of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini to the papal throne in 1623, as Pope Urban VIII...
family during the 1670s and 1680s. These include marble sculptural portraits of Cardinal Francesco Barberini
Francesco Barberini (seniore)
Francesco Barberini was an Italian Catholic Cardinal. The nephew of Pope Urban VIII , he benefited immensely from the nepotism practiced by his uncle...
, Cardinal Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini
Antonio Barberini was an Italian Catholic cardinal, Archbishop of Reims, military leader, patron of the arts and a prominent member of the House of Barberini. As one of the cardinal-nephews of Pope Urban VIII and a supporter of France, he played a significant role at a number of the papal...
and their nephew Maffeo Barberini, as well as busts of Barberini Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
and Pope Alexander VIII
Pope Alexander VIII
Pope Alexander VIII , born Pietro Vito Ottoboni, was Pope from 1689 to 1691.-Early life:Pietro Ottoboni was born of a noble Venetian family, and was the son of Marco Ottoboni, chancellor of the Republic of Venice...
.
Between the 1690s and about 1718, using bronze and stucco, he contributed to the sculptural decoration of the Chapel of the Baptisterium, transept, and chapels at St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
, the chapel of Sant'Ignazio in the church of Il Gesù and the Basilica of St. John Lateran
Basilica of St. John Lateran
The Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran , commonly known as St. John Lateran's Archbasilica and St. John Lateran's Basilica, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope...
.
Ottoni was elected in 1691 to the Accademia di San Luca
Accademia di San Luca
The Accademia di San Luca, was founded in 1577 as an association of artists in Rome, under the directorship of Federico Zuccari, with the purpose of elevating the work of "artists", which included painters, sculptors and architects, above that of mere craftsmen. Other founders included Girolamo...
in Rome and a short time later to the Congregazione dei Virtuosi al Pantheon (Assembly of Illustrious Artists), Rome's two most prestigious artists' organizations.