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Francesco Solimena was a prolific Italian painter of the Baroque era, born on October 4, 1657, in Canale di Serino, near Avellino. He received early training from his father, Angelo Solimena, with whom he executed a Paradise for the cathedral of Nocera. Solimena's artistic style was characterized by his use of warm brownish shadowing, which he learned from the Roman Baroque masters, Luca Giordano and Giovanni Lanfranco.
Early Life and Training
Solimena's early training was influenced by his father, who was also a painter. He worked in the studio of Francesco di Maria and later Giacomo del Po. Solimena's artistic talent was recognized by Cardinal Vincenzo Orsini, who encouraged him to become an artist. By the 1680s, Solimena had independent fresco commissions, and his active studio came to dominate Neapolitan painting from the 1690s through the first four decades of the 18th century.
Artistic Style and Notable Works
Solimena's artistic style was characterized by his use of warm brownish shadowing, which he learned from the Roman Baroque masters. He painted many frescoes in Naples, altarpieces, celebrations of weddings and courtly occasions, mythological subjects, and portraits. Some of his notable works include Allegory of Rule, which is now housed at the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. Solimena's settings are suggested with a few details, concentrating attention on figures and their draperies, caught in pools and shafts of light.
- Francesco Solimena was a prolific Italian painter of the Baroque era.
- He received early training from his father, Angelo Solimena.
- Solimena's artistic style was characterized by his use of warm brownish shadowing.
- He painted many frescoes in Naples, altarpieces, celebrations of weddings and courtly occasions, mythological subjects, and portraits.
- Solimena's settings are suggested with a few details, concentrating attention on figures and their draperies, caught in pools and shafts of light.
Legacy and Influence
Solimena's large, efficiently structured atelier became a virtual academy, at the heart of cultural life in Naples. Among his many pupils were Francesco de Mura, Giuseppe Bonito, Pietro Capelli, and Corrado Giaquinto. Solimena amassed a fortune, was made a baron, and lived in sumptuous style founded on his success. He died at Barra, near Naples, in 1747.
Francesco Solimena's legacy continues to be celebrated through his artwork, which can be found in various museums and collections around the world, including WahooArt.com. |
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