Alessandro Algardi

Alessandro Algardi (July 31,1598 - June 10, 1654), was an Italian sculptor and architect.

Related Topics:
July 31 - 1598 - June 10 - 1654 - Italian - Sculptor - Architect

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He was born at Bologna. While under tutelage of Agostino Carracci, his preference for sculpture became evident, and began working under the sculptor Conventi. At the age of twenty he was brought under the notice of Ferdinand, Duke of Mantua, who gave him several commissions. He was also much employed about the same period by jewellers and other craftsmen, modelling in gold, silver and ivory.

Related Topics:
Bologna - Agostino Carracci - Ferdinand, Duke of Mantua

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After a short residence in Venice he went to Rome in 1625 with an introduction from the Duke of Mantua to the pope's nephew, Cardinal Ludovisi, who employed him for a time in the restoration of ancient statues. The duke's death left him to his own resources, and for several years he earned a precarious living from these restorations and commissions of goldsmiths and jewellers. In 1640 he created, for Pietro Buoncompagni, his first work in marble, a colossal statue of Philip Neri, with kneeling angels. Immediately after this, he produced a similar group, representing the execution of Saint Paul, for the church of the Barnabite Fathers in Bologna. These works, displaying great technical skill, though with considerable exaggeration of expression and attitude, at once established Algardi's reputation, and other commissions quickly followed.

Related Topics:
Venice - Rome - Pietro Buoncompagni - Philip Neri - Saint Paul

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The turning point in Algardi's fortune was the accession of Pope Innocent X, of the Bolognese house of Panfili, to the papal throne in 1644. He was employed by Camino Panfili, nephew of the pontiff, to design the Villa Doria Panfili outside the San Pancrazio gate. The most important of Algardi's other works are in the Vatican: the monument of Pope Leo XI, a bronze statue of Innocent X for the capitol, and most prominently La Fuga d'Attila or Papa Leone ferma Attila (the flight of Attila or Pope Leo meeting Atilla). This large dramatic marble alto-relievo reinvigorated the use of marble in reliefs. The two principal figures, the stern and courageous pope and the fleeing and frightened Atilla, surge from the center. Only they see they two can see the descending angelic warriers rallying to the pope's defense; while all others persist in daily duty. In a reference to his patron, Algardi has harnessed the legend that a Leonine pope, with supernatural aide, detered the Huns from looting Rome. So hoped Leo XI to impress all that the papacy could beckon divine retribution against enemies. The marble relief beckons instead to see the mastery of control: the papal injunction both hearkens the cringing heathen to faith and calls forth the smiting angels. This is passionate action restrained by stone relief.

Related Topics:
Pope Innocent X - Villa Doria Panfili - Pope Leo XI - La Fuga d'Attila - Papa Leone ferma Attila

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Algardi was also known for his portraiture which shows a obssesive attention to detail ultimately causing serene classic visages, a sober but immediate naturalism, such as in the busts of Laudivio Zacchia, Camillo Pamphilj, and Muzio Frangipane and his two sons Lello and Roberto http://www.romeartlover.it/Algardi.html. In St. Peters Basilica, he was responsible for the tomb of Leo XI (completed 1644). In temperament, his style was more akin, among his contemporaries to Francois Duquesnoy than to Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Related Topics:
St. Peters Basilica - Leo XI - Francois Duquesnoy - Gian Lorenzo Bernini

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In 1650 Algardi met Diego Velasquez, who obtained some interesting commissions for his Italian companion in Spain. There are four chimneys by Algardi in the palace of Aranjuez, where the figures on the fountain of Neptune were also by him. The Augustine monastery at Salamanca contains the tomb of the count and countess de Monterey, another work by Algardi. From an artistic point of view, he was most successful in portrait-statues and groups of children, where he was obliged to follow nature most closely. In his later years he amassed a great fortune. He died in Rome.

Related Topics:
1650 - Diego Velasquez - Aranjuez - Neptune - Salamanca

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