Vincenzo Camuccini
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Vincenzo Camuccini (22 February 1771 – 2 September 1844) was an Italian Neoclassical painter. He was considered the premier academic painter of his time in
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
.


Biography


Early life and education

Camuccini was born in
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
, and first educated by his brother Pietro, a picture-restorer, and Pietro Leone Bombelli, an engraver. His brother Pietro gave up his place in the studio of Domenico Corvi to Vincenzo. Pietro’s taste and artistic interests influenced Vincenzo, who first came across the works of earlier masters, notably
Poussin Nicolas Poussin (, , ; June 1594 – 19 November 1665) was a French painter who was a leading painter of the Classicism, classical French Baroque style, although he spent most of his working life in Rome. Most of his works were on religious and ...
, through engravings collected by Pietro, who also suggested that Vincenzo make an intense study of works by
Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...
and
Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...
in the Vatican, Rome. Until nearly the age of 30 he mainly dedicated himself to copying
Old Master In art history, "Old Master" (or "old master")Old Masters De ...
s. During the 1790s Camuccini became acquainted with other young artists, most notably
Pietro Benvenuti Pietro Benvenuti (8 January 1769 – 3 February 1844) was an Italian Neoclassicism, Neoclassical painter. Biography Early life and education Born in Arezzo in Tuscany, he was influenced by the style of Jacques-Louis David. He was a student of ...
, Giuseppe Bossi, and Luigi Sabatelli, who were to lead the Neoclassical movement in Tuscany and Lombardy. Together they created an informal academy, using Camuccini's house as a studio, where they shared in studies of anatomy and models for life drawing, and held competitions on mutually set themes.


Mature works

As an original painter, Camuccini belongs to the Neoclassicist school fostered in Rome by
Pompeo Batoni Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (25 January 1708 – 4 February 1787) was an Italian painter who displayed a solid technical knowledge in his portrait work and in his numerous Allegory, allegorical and mythological pictures. The high number of foreign vis ...
,
Anton Raphael Mengs Anton Raphael Mengs (12 March 1728 – 29 June 1779) was a German Neoclassicism, Neoclassical painter. Early life Mengs was born on 12 March 1728, at Ústí nad Labem in the Kingdom of Bohemia, the son of Ismael Mengs, a Danish-born painter wh ...
and
Angelica Kauffman Maria Anna Angelika Kauffmann ( ; 30 October 1741 – 5 November 1807), usually known in English as Angelica Kauffman, was a Swiss people, Swiss Neoclassicism, Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Remembered prima ...
. Other important sources of inspiration were Winckelmann’s writings on the ancient art and Neoclassical works by such foreign artists resident in Rome as
Gavin Hamilton Gavin Hamilton may refer to: * Gavin Hamilton (archbishop of St Andrews) (died 1571), archbishop of St Andrews * Gavin Hamilton (bishop of Galloway) (1561–1612), bishop of Galloway * Gavin Hamilton (artist) (1723–1798), Scottish artist * Ga ...
. Camuccini's first major independent work, completed around 1798, was a large canvas of '' The Death of Julius Caesar''. The subject was highly topical, giving full expression to Roman Republican ideals. This led to the assessment that Camuccini may have been influenced by
Jacques-Louis David Jacques-Louis David (; 30 August 1748 – 29 December 1825) was a French painter in the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical style, considered to be the preeminent painter of the era. In the 1780s, his cerebral brand of history painting marked a change in ...
's classic Roman themes and style; but it is more likely both were emerging from the rising Neoclassic refocus towards images of and derived from Greco-Roman themes. Camuccini's following painting, the ''Death of Virginia'' (Naples,
Museo di Capodimonte Museo di Capodimonte is an art museum located in the Palace of Capodimonte, a grand Bourbon palazzo in Naples, Italy designed by Giovanni Antonio Medrano. The museum is the prime repository of Neapolitan painting and decorative art, with se ...
), was completed in 1804. The success of these works established his reputation in Rome and abroad. In 1802 he became a member of the Accademia di San Luca and in 1803 he was nominated by Pope Pius VII Director of the mosaic workshop at St Peter’s. For the Basilica he executed a mosaic of the ''Incredulity of Thomas'' (1806–22). In 1806, Gaspare Landi received a commission for two large canvases for the chapel of the Madonna of the Rosary in the church of San Giovanni in
Piacenza Piacenza (; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, and the capital of the province of Piacenza, eponymous province. As of 2022, Piacenza is the ninth largest city in the region by population, with more ...
. Ultimately, the commission was split with Camuccini who painted a ''Presentation in the Temple''. The canvases by the two artists were completed in the early spring of 1806, and were exhibited side by side at the Pantheon at Easter of that year. Camuccini also painted a ''Betrothal of Psyche'', and, jointly with Landi, he frescoed the ceiling of the Palazzo Torlonia. In the following years Camuccini was appointed to a number of important posts: in 1809 he was named Superintendent of the Vatican Picture Galleries and in 1814 Superintendent of the Apostolic Palaces. That same year he became Inspector of Public Paintings for Rome and the
Papal States The Papal States ( ; ; ), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope from 756 to 1870. They were among the major states of Italy from the 8th c ...
. From 1806 to 1810 he was president of the
Accademia di San Luca The Accademia di San Luca () is an Italian academy of artists in Rome. The establishment of the Accademia de i Pittori e Scultori di Roma was approved by papal brief in 1577, and in 1593 Federico Zuccari became its first ''principe'' or director; ...
. In 1820 he became a member of the
Institut de France The ; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the . It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute manages approximately ...
and in 1825 he was appointed director of the Neapolitan Academy of
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. Camuccini attained considerable eminence as a portrait painter. Among his clients were many members of the
House of Bourbon The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a dynasty that originated in the Kingdom of France as a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Kingdom of Navarre, Navarre in the 16th century. A br ...
Ferdinand I, and
Francis I of the Two Sicilies Francis I of the Two Sicilies (; 19 August 1777 – 8 November 1830) was King of the Two Sicilies from 1825 to 1830 and regent of the Kingdom of Sicily from 1806 to 1814. Early life Francis was born the son of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicili ...
,
Charles IV of Spain Charles IV (; 11 November 1748 – 20 January 1819) was King of Spain and ruler of the Spanish Empire from 1788 to 1808. The Spain inherited by Charles IV gave few indications of instability, but during his reign, Spain entered a series of disa ...
, the Duke Charles Louis, and the Duchess Maria Luisa of Lucca, as well as
Francis I of Austria Francis II and I (; 12 February 1768 – 2 March 1835) was the last Holy Roman Emperor as Francis II from 1792 to 1806, and the first Emperor of Austria as Francis I from 1804 to 1835. He was also King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, and served ...
, Grand Duke Alexander of Russia, and
Charles Albert of Sardinia Charles Albert (; 2 October 1798 – 28 July 1849) was the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), King of Sardinia and ruler of the Savoyard state from 27 April 1831 until his abdication in 1849. His name is bound up with the first Italian constit ...
. Camuccini also worked for
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
,
Joachim Murat Joachim Murat ( , also ; ; ; 25 March 1767 – 13 October 1815) was a French Army officer and statesman who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Under the French Empire he received the military titles of Marshal of the ...
, and for many princely Roman families, church dignitaries, and members of the foreign nobility in Rome. Among the best portraits he produced are those of Pope Pius VII (now in the Gallery at
Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
); the Comte de Blacas, Ambassador from France to the
Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...
; the King and the Queen of Naples; The Countess Sehouvaloff; and the Countess von Dietrichstein (1829). Several of his works were engraved by Pietro Bettelini, and some have been lithographed by Giovanni Scudellari, and published under the title of ''I Fasti principali della Vita di Gesù Cristo'', with text in
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
and French at
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
, in 1829. Pope Pius VII conferred upon him the title of Baron, with hereditary succession, and the Emperor Francis I the order of the Iron Crown. In 1829, he was elected as an Honorary member of the
National Academy of Design The National Academy of Design is an honorary association of American artists, founded in New York City in 1825 by Samuel Morse, Asher Durand, Thomas Cole, Frederick Styles Agate, Martin E. Thompson, Charles Cushing Wright, Ithiel Town, an ...
. He died at
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
on 2 September 1844.nationalacademy.org: ''Past Academicians "C" / Camuccini, Vincenzo Honorary 1829''
(accessdate: 2016/1/30) Among his many pupils and followers were
Constantino Brumidi Constantino Brumidi (26 July 1805 – 19 February 1880) was a Greek-Italian painter and a Naturalization, naturalized American citizen, best known and honored for his fresco work, ''The Apotheosis of Washington, Apotheosis of Washington'', in the ...
, Giovanni Battista Biscarra,
Francesco Podesti Francesco Podesti (21 March 1800 – 10 February 1895) was an Italian painter, active in a Romantic style. Together with Francesco Hayez and Giuseppe Bezzuoli, he is considered one of the greatest Italian painters of the first half of the 19th c ...
and Salvatore Lo Forte.


Art collection

Camuccini expended no small portion of his wealth in the purchase of a fine collection of objects of art. In 1856, the greater portion of the pictures, upwards of seventy in number, were purchased being bought by the duke of Northumberland, who removed them to Alnwick Castle. They consist principally of the works of the
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
masters living in the 16th and 17th centuries, with some specimens of an earlier date, and a few others of the Dutch and Flemish painters of the 17th century. He purchased a Raphael, known as ''
Madonna of the Pinks The ''Madonna of the Pinks'' (c. 1506 – 1507, ) is an early devotional painting usually attributed to Italian Renaissance master Raphael. It is painted in oils on highly toxic yew wood, a first for a Raphael, and now hangs in the National Galler ...
''.


Selected works

File:Vincenzo Camuccini - La morte di Cesare.jpg, '' The Death of Julius Caesar'' (1798), Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna File:Camuccini, Roman Women Offering Their Jewellery in Defence of the State.jpg, ''Roman Women Offering Their Jewellery in Defence of the State'' (1825–1829), Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum File:Vincenzo Camuccini - Scipios Mäßigung - 2782 - Kunsthistorisches Museum.jpg, ''Scipio's moderation'' (1808-11),
Kunsthistorisches Museum The Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien ( "Vienna Museum of art history, Art History", often referred to as the "Museum of Fine Arts, Vienna") is an art museum in Vienna, Austria. Housed in its festive palatial building on the Vienna Ring Road, i ...
File:Vincenzo Camuccini - A Roman Triumphal Entry, Possibly of Marcus Claudius Marcellus, 1816.jpg, '' A Roman Triumphal Entry'' (1816), Private collection File:Vincenzo Camuccini - Ritratto di Ferdinando I delle due Sicilie.jpg, ''Portrait of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies'' (1818-19) File:Camuccini Klementyna Ostrowska.jpg, ''Portrait of Klementyna Ostrowska née Sanguszko'' (1822), Tarnów District Museum File:Dietrichstein by Vincenzo Camuccini.jpg, ''Portrait of Princess Alexandra Andreevna Dietrichstein'' (1800) File:Maria Luisa of Spain, duchess of Lucca.jpg, ''Portrait of Maria Luisa of Spain, duchess of Lucca'' (1810-11),
Palazzo Pitti The Palazzo Pitti (), in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. The core of the present ...
, Florence File:Rossini-portrait-0.jpg, ''Portrait of Gioacchino Rossini'', (c. 1810), Museo del Teatro alla Scala File:Vincenzo Camuccini - Hagar in the desert - M.Ob.2044 MNW - National Museum in Warsaw.jpg, ''Hagar in the desert'' (1817), National Museum in Warsaw


Notes


References

* * * * * Attribution: *


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Camuccini, Vincenzo 1771 births 1844 deaths Painters from Rome 18th-century Italian painters Italian male painters 19th-century Italian painters Italian neoclassical painters Brera Academy alumni 19th-century Italian male artists 18th-century Italian male artists