Alessandro Turchi
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Turchi was an Italian
painter of the early Baroque
, born and active mainly in Verona
, and moving late in life to Rome
. He also went by the name Alessandro Veronese or the nickname L'Orbetto.
Turchi initially trained with Felice Riccio
(il Brusasorci) in Verona. By 1603, he is already working as independent painter, and in 1606-1609, Turchi paints the organ shutters for the Filarmonica Academy of Verona. When Brusasorci dies in 1605, Turchi and his fellow Paschal Ottino (or Pasquale) complete a series of their deceased master's canvases. In 1610, he completes an Assumption altarpiece for the church of San Luca of Verona In 1612, the Veronese Guild of the Goldsmiths commissions an altarpiece, today lost, of the Madonna and Saints. On leaving the school of Riccio, he went to Venice
, where he worked for a time under Curio Cagliari.
By 1616, Turchi travels to Rome participating in the fresco decoration (Gathering of Manna) of the Sala Regia of the Quirinal Palace
, and painting a Christ, Magdalen, and angels for cardinal Scipione Borghese
. In competition with Andrea Sacchi
and Pietro da Cortona
, he painted some pictures in the church of La Concezione. In 1619, he sends an altarpiece of the 40 martyrs for the Chapel of the Innocents in Santo Stefano of Verona, to hang next to paintings by Pasquale Ottino and Marcantonio Bassetti.He also painted a Flight into Egypt for San Romualdo; a Holy Family for S. Lorenzo in Lucina; and a S. Carlo Borromeo in S. Salvatore in Lauro. He was much employed on cabinet pictures, representing historical subjects, which he frequently painted on black marble. His two pupils, Giovanni Ceschini and Giovanni Battista Rossi, practiced in Verona
, the former painting copies of his master's works, which were often taken for originals.
For the Count Giangiacomo Giusti, in 1620 he paints an Allegory of Fame between Mercury and Pallas Athena and three canvases of Faith, Hope, and Charity. In 1621 executes for French cardinal François de Sourdis
the Resurrection of Christ, now in the cathedral of Sant'Andrea of Bordeaux, and sends the Adoration of the Magi for the Gherardini family in Verona. By 1621, he had completed a painting of San Carlo Borromeo and the Madonna in Glory for San Salvatore in Lauro
in Rome. Documents from 1629, indicate Turchi was paid 110 scudi for painting St. Anthony of Padua for the Farnese Palace at Caprarola
. In 1632, an inventory of the Palazzo Mattei di Giove, records a Saint Marta and Maria Madalena and a Samaritan Women by Turchi.
His sister married Giacinto Gimignani
. In 1623, Turchi married Lucia San Giuliano. In 1637, with the sponsorship of the cardinal Francesco Barberini
, he became Principe or director of the Accademia di San Luca
. In 1638, he joined the Pontifical Accademia dei Virtuosi of the Pantheon
. He died in Rome.
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...
painter of the early Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
, born and active mainly in Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, and moving late in life to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He also went by the name Alessandro Veronese or the nickname L'Orbetto.
Turchi initially trained with Felice Riccio
Felice Riccio
Felice Riccio was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance period, active mainly in Verona. He is also known as il Brusasorci or Brusasorzi or Felice Brusasorci. He was the son of the painter Domenico Riccio. Among his pupils, were Alessandro Turchi, Pasquale Ottini, and Marcantonio Bassetti...
(il Brusasorci) in Verona. By 1603, he is already working as independent painter, and in 1606-1609, Turchi paints the organ shutters for the Filarmonica Academy of Verona. When Brusasorci dies in 1605, Turchi and his fellow Paschal Ottino (or Pasquale) complete a series of their deceased master's canvases. In 1610, he completes an Assumption altarpiece for the church of San Luca of Verona In 1612, the Veronese Guild of the Goldsmiths commissions an altarpiece, today lost, of the Madonna and Saints. On leaving the school of Riccio, he went to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, where he worked for a time under Curio Cagliari.
By 1616, Turchi travels to Rome participating in the fresco decoration (Gathering of Manna) of the Sala Regia of the Quirinal Palace
Quirinal Palace
The Quirinal Palace is a historical building in Rome, Italy, the current official residence of the President of the Italian Republic. It is located on the Quirinal Hill, the tallest of the seven hills of Rome...
, and painting a Christ, Magdalen, and angels for cardinal Scipione Borghese
Scipione Borghese
Scipione Borghese was an Italian Cardinal, art collector and patron of the arts. A member of the Borghese family, he was the patron of the painter Caravaggio and the artist Bernini...
. In competition with Andrea Sacchi
Andrea Sacchi
Andrea Sacchi was an Italian painter of High Baroque Classicism, active in Rome. A generation of artists who shared his style of art include the painters Nicolas Poussin and Giovanni Battista Passeri, the sculptors Alessandro Algardi and François Duquesnoy, and the contemporary biographer Giovanni...
and Pietro da Cortona
Pietro da Cortona
Pietro da Cortona, by the name of Pietro Berrettini, born Pietro Berrettini da Cortona, was the leading Italian Baroque painter of his time and also one of the key architects in the emergence of Roman Baroque architecture. He was also an important decorator...
, he painted some pictures in the church of La Concezione. In 1619, he sends an altarpiece of the 40 martyrs for the Chapel of the Innocents in Santo Stefano of Verona, to hang next to paintings by Pasquale Ottino and Marcantonio Bassetti.He also painted a Flight into Egypt for San Romualdo; a Holy Family for S. Lorenzo in Lucina; and a S. Carlo Borromeo in S. Salvatore in Lauro. He was much employed on cabinet pictures, representing historical subjects, which he frequently painted on black marble. His two pupils, Giovanni Ceschini and Giovanni Battista Rossi, practiced in Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, the former painting copies of his master's works, which were often taken for originals.
For the Count Giangiacomo Giusti, in 1620 he paints an Allegory of Fame between Mercury and Pallas Athena and three canvases of Faith, Hope, and Charity. In 1621 executes for French cardinal François de Sourdis
François de Sourdis
François d'Escoubleau de Sourdis was a French Catholic prelate, the Archbishop of Bordeaux and founder of the Irish College there in 1603.-Biography:...
the Resurrection of Christ, now in the cathedral of Sant'Andrea of Bordeaux, and sends the Adoration of the Magi for the Gherardini family in Verona. By 1621, he had completed a painting of San Carlo Borromeo and the Madonna in Glory for San Salvatore in Lauro
San Salvatore in Lauro
San Salvatore in Lauro is a Catholic church in central Rome, Italy, located in the rione Ponte. It is the "national church" of the marchigiani, the inhabitants of the Marche region of Italy...
in Rome. Documents from 1629, indicate Turchi was paid 110 scudi for painting St. Anthony of Padua for the Farnese Palace at Caprarola
Caprarola
Caprarola is a town and comune in the province of Viterbo, in the Lazio region of central Italy. The village is situated in a range of volcanic hills known as the Cimini Mounts....
. In 1632, an inventory of the Palazzo Mattei di Giove, records a Saint Marta and Maria Madalena and a Samaritan Women by Turchi.
His sister married Giacinto Gimignani
Giacinto Gimignani
Giacinto Gimignani was an Italian painter, active mainly in Rome, during the Baroque period.Gimignani was born in Pistoia, where his father, Alessio was also a painter and former pupil of Jacopo Ligozzi...
. In 1623, Turchi married Lucia San Giuliano. In 1637, with the sponsorship of the cardinal Francesco Barberini
Francesco Barberini (seniore)
Francesco Barberini was an Italian Catholic Cardinal. The nephew of Pope Urban VIII , he benefited immensely from the nepotism practiced by his uncle...
, he became Principe or director of the Accademia di San Luca
Accademia di San Luca
The Accademia di San Luca, was founded in 1577 as an association of artists in Rome, under the directorship of Federico Zuccari, with the purpose of elevating the work of "artists", which included painters, sculptors and architects, above that of mere craftsmen. Other founders included Girolamo...
. In 1638, he joined the Pontifical Accademia dei Virtuosi of the Pantheon
Pantheon, Rome
The Pantheon ,Rarely Pantheum. This appears in Pliny's Natural History in describing this edifice: Agrippae Pantheum decoravit Diogenes Atheniensis; in columnis templi eius Caryatides probantur inter pauca operum, sicut in fastigio posita signa, sed propter altitudinem loci minus celebrata.from ,...
. He died in Rome.