Niccolo d'Ardia Caracciolo
Encyclopedia
Niccolo d'Ardia Caracciolo (1941 – 1989), known as Niccolo Caracciolo, was an Irish
painter.
Born in Dublin, he was the only son of Ferdinando Caracciolo, Prince of Cursi, a member of an old Italian family originally from Naples
. His mother was a Fitzgerald of the Island, near Waterford
, now Waterford Castle, where he was reared.
After being educated in England
, at The Oratory School
, he went to Florence
at the age of nineteen to study art and continued to keep a base there for much of the rest of his life, travelling back and forth to Ireland.
In 1964 Caracciolo was one of the painters chosen to paint a replica of the Sistine Chapel
for the scenery of the 1965 film The Agony and the Ecstasy
, on the life of Michelangelo
.
From 1975 to 1978 he lived at Rosemount House, near Moate
, County Westmeath
, where he painted many scenes of the surrounding countryside and exhibited at the Lad Lane Gallery in Dublin in 1978. He also exhibited at the Solomon Gallery. He was elected RHA in 1984.
In 1983 he became an associate Member of the Royal Hibernian Association and in 1984 a full member.
He died near Siena
, Italy
in a road accident in 1989 and was buried at Bunclody
, County Wexford
.
The Don Niccolo d'Ardia Caracciolo RHA Medal is awarded in his memory.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
painter.
Born in Dublin, he was the only son of Ferdinando Caracciolo, Prince of Cursi, a member of an old Italian family originally from Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. His mother was a Fitzgerald of the Island, near Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, now Waterford Castle, where he was reared.
After being educated in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, at The Oratory School
The Oratory School
The Oratory School is a Roman Catholic, independent school for boys in Woodcote, Berkshire. It is the last Catholic all-boys boarding school remaining in Great Britain. It has approximately 420 pupils...
, he went to Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
at the age of nineteen to study art and continued to keep a base there for much of the rest of his life, travelling back and forth to Ireland.
In 1964 Caracciolo was one of the painters chosen to paint a replica of the Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is the best-known chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is famous for its architecture and its decoration that was frescoed throughout by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio...
for the scenery of the 1965 film The Agony and the Ecstasy
The Agony and the Ecstasy (film)
The Agony and the Ecstasy is a 1965 film directed by Carol Reed, starring Charlton Heston as Michelangelo and Rex Harrison as Pope Julius II. The film was partly based on Irving Stone's biographical novel of the same name. This film deals with the conflicts of Michelangelo and Pope Julius II...
, on the life of Michelangelo
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
.
From 1975 to 1978 he lived at Rosemount House, near Moate
Moate
Moate is a town in County Westmeath, Ireland.The name An Móta is derived from the term motte-and-bailey as the Normans built an example of this type of fortification here. The earthwork is still visible behind the buildings on the main street....
, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
, where he painted many scenes of the surrounding countryside and exhibited at the Lad Lane Gallery in Dublin in 1978. He also exhibited at the Solomon Gallery. He was elected RHA in 1984.
In 1983 he became an associate Member of the Royal Hibernian Association and in 1984 a full member.
He died near Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, 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...
in a road accident in 1989 and was buried at Bunclody
Bunclody
Bunclody is a small town located on the River Slaney, on the border between counties Wexford and Carlow, Ireland. The R746 regional road intersects the N80 in the centre of the town. It is a picturesque town near the foot of Mount Leinster. Most of the town is situated in County Wexford...
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
.
The Don Niccolo d'Ardia Caracciolo RHA Medal is awarded in his memory.
External links
- Niccolo d'Ardia Caracciolo (artnet.com)