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Historical Artist - Jacopo Amigoni (1685 - 1752)
Although the exact details of his early life are unknown, Jacopo Amigoni was probably born and
trained in Venice. His international career began in 1715, working in countries such as England,
France, Bavaria, and Spain. Known for his Rococo style of painting, Amigoni made his living as a
portrait painter while also working on large-scale decorative paintings. He died in Spain in
1752.
Amigoni initially painted both mythological and religious scenes; but as the panoply of his
patrons expanded northward, he began producing many parlour works depicting gods in sensuous
languor or games.
Starting in 1717, he is documented as working in Bavaria in the Castle of Nymphenburg (1719);
in the castle of Schleissheim (1725-1729); and in the Benedictine abbey of Ottobeuren. He
returned to Venice in 1726. His Arraignment of Paris hangs in the Villa Pisani at Stra.
From 1730 to 1739 he worked in England, in Pown House, Moor Park and in the Theatre of Covent
Garden. From there, he helped convince Canaletto to travel to England by telling him of the
ample patronage available.
From his travel to Paris in 1736, he met the celebrated castrato named Farinelli. Later in
Madrid, he was to paint a self-portrait with the singer and entourage. He also encountered the
painting of François Lemoine and Boucher.
In 1739 he returned to Italy, perhaps to Naples and surely to Montecassino, in whose Abbey
existed two canvases (destroyed during World War II). Until 1747, he travelled to Venice to
paint for Sigismund Streit, for the Casa Savoia and other buildings of the city. In 1747 he left
Italy and established himself in Madrid. There he became court painter to Ferdinand VI of Spain
and director of the Royal Academy of Saint Fernando. He died in Madrid.
Contemporary Italian Artists
Art Galleries in Italy
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