Cipriano Piccolpasso
Encyclopedia
Cipriano di Michele Piccolpasso (1524 – 21 November 1579) was a member of an Italian patrician family of Bologna
that had been settled since the mid-fifteenth century in Castel Durante, which was an important center for the manufacture of maiolica
. He had the humanist
education of his station in life and was trained as a surveyor and civil and military engineer and draughtsman, which took him to Rimini, Ancona, Fano and Spoleto, but his true vocation was as a painter of maiolica, for which he returned to Castel Durante and founded a highly successful workshop
Piccolpasso was also a poet, received a member of the literary Accademia degli Eccentrici in Perugia, where in 1573 he helped found the Accademia del Disegno, one of the earliest academies for Italian artists.
About 1548 he wrote Li tre libri dell'arte del vasajo ("The three books of the potter's art"), which are a storehouse of information on the techniques of maiolica
from his practical workshop experience, from the choice of clays and their refinement, the shaping of the body, the composition of the glazes, the preparation of the colors. The treatise was written at the request of the Cardinal François de Tournon
, "who spent a whole year there during the time when the French descended into Italy." and who may have had the improvement of French faience
manufactures in mind. The manuscript is enriched with his drawings of typical decorative motifs; it was bought for the library of the Victoria and Albert Museum
and has been issued in photo facsimile with an introduction by Ronald Lightbown of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the potter Alan Caiger-Smith
, an expert on the technical side of majolica ware.
He also wrote an illustrated topography of Umbria
, Le piante ed I ritratti delle Città e Terre dell'Umbria sottoposte al governo di Perugia, which was commissioned by Pope Pius IV
, by whom he was knighted, henceforth cavaliere. He was buried in the church of San Francesco, Castel Durante.
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
that had been settled since the mid-fifteenth century in Castel Durante, which was an important center for the manufacture of maiolica
Maiolica
Maiolica is Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance. It is decorated in bright colours on a white background, frequently depicting historical and legendary scenes.-Name:...
. He had the humanist
Renaissance humanism
Renaissance humanism was an activity of cultural and educational reform engaged by scholars, writers, and civic leaders who are today known as Renaissance humanists. It developed during the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth centuries, and was a response to the challenge of Mediæval...
education of his station in life and was trained as a surveyor and civil and military engineer and draughtsman, which took him to Rimini, Ancona, Fano and Spoleto, but his true vocation was as a painter of maiolica, for which he returned to Castel Durante and founded a highly successful workshop
Piccolpasso was also a poet, received a member of the literary Accademia degli Eccentrici in Perugia, where in 1573 he helped found the Accademia del Disegno, one of the earliest academies for Italian artists.
About 1548 he wrote Li tre libri dell'arte del vasajo ("The three books of the potter's art"), which are a storehouse of information on the techniques of maiolica
Maiolica
Maiolica is Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance. It is decorated in bright colours on a white background, frequently depicting historical and legendary scenes.-Name:...
from his practical workshop experience, from the choice of clays and their refinement, the shaping of the body, the composition of the glazes, the preparation of the colors. The treatise was written at the request of the Cardinal François de Tournon
François de Tournon
François de Tournon was a French Augustinian diplomat and Cardinal. From 1536 he was also a military leader of French forces operating in Provence, Savoy and Piedmont. In the same year he founded the Collège de Tournon. For a period he was effectively France's foreign minister.-External links:*...
, "who spent a whole year there during the time when the French descended into Italy." and who may have had the improvement of French faience
Faience
Faience or faïence is the conventional name in English for fine tin-glazed pottery on a delicate pale buff earthenware body, originally associated with Faenza in northern Italy. The invention of a white pottery glaze suitable for painted decoration, by the addition of an oxide of tin to the slip...
manufactures in mind. The manuscript is enriched with his drawings of typical decorative motifs; it was bought for the library of the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
and has been issued in photo facsimile with an introduction by Ronald Lightbown of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the potter Alan Caiger-Smith
Alan Caiger-Smith
Alan Caiger-Smith MBE is a British studio potter and writer on pottery.- Life and work :He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He studied at the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts and read history at King's College, Cambridge...
, an expert on the technical side of majolica ware.
He also wrote an illustrated topography of Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, Le piante ed I ritratti delle Città e Terre dell'Umbria sottoposte al governo di Perugia, which was commissioned by Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV , born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was Pope from 1559 to 1565. He is notable for presiding over the culmination of the Council of Trent.-Biography:...
, by whom he was knighted, henceforth cavaliere. He was buried in the church of San Francesco, Castel Durante.
Further reading
- Cipriano Picolpasso, I tre libri dell'arte del vasaio, A. Caiger-Smith and Ronald Lightbown (eds.), 2 vols (London, 1980).
- ArtNet:Cipriano Piccolpasso
- "Personaggi illustri di Urbania"