Federiko Benkovic
Encyclopedia
Federiko Benković was a prominent late Baroque
painter. He is best known as Federico Bencovich or Federico Bencovic, but also as Federigo or Federighetto or Dalmatino.
Born from a Croatian family, he is also known as 'Federico or Federigo Bencovich'. His birthplace is unknown, either in Omiš, Šibenik, the island Brač, Ragusa (Dubrovnik), or possibly Venice itself.
His initial training was likely in Venice, but later Benković apprenticed with Carlo Cignani
in Bologna
, assisting him in 1706 in completing the frescoes of the Assumption of the Virgin on the dome of the Forlì cathedral. His first independent work, Juno on the clouds, was painted in 1705. He also appears to have worked in the studio of Giuseppe Maria Crespi.
In 1710 Benković painted the altarpiece of St. Andrew on the cross surrounded by St. Bartholomew, St. Carolus Borromei, St. Lucia, and St. Apollonia for the church of Madonna del Piombo in Bologna
, later transferred to the parish church of Senonches near Chartres
in France
. By 1715, he came to the service of Prince Lothar Franz Schönborn and was to complete four large canvas masterpieces for the gallery in the Schloss Weißenstein in the town of Pommersfelden
: Apollo and Marcia, Hagar and Ishmael in the desert, Iphigenia’s sacrifice and Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.
The dramatic, often tortured, poses and lighting of his figures are placed within earthy tenebrist backgrounds, He uses the Piazzetta's and Sebastiano Ricci
's unfinished and ragged brushstrokes, but superimposes a startling mystical imprint that is often foreign to the magisterial and olympian Venetian painting, and more akin to the Baroque painters from Northern Italy, Alessandro Magnasco
and Francesco Cairo
.
Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac , is probably the painting that disappeared from the castle of Pommersfelden
at the beginning of the 19th century. Until that time, the painting was attributed to Piazzetta.
After his death, Benković gradually fell into oblivion. His paintings used to be attributed to Piazzetta, Cignani, amongst others.
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...
painter. He is best known as Federico Bencovich or Federico Bencovic, but also as Federigo or Federighetto or Dalmatino.
Born from a Croatian family, he is also known as 'Federico or Federigo Bencovich'. His birthplace is unknown, either in Omiš, Šibenik, the island Brač, Ragusa (Dubrovnik), or possibly Venice itself.
His initial training was likely in Venice, but later Benković apprenticed with Carlo Cignani
Carlo Cignani
Carlo Cignani was an Italian painter of the Bolognese and of the Forlivese school, active in the Baroque period....
in Bologna
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,...
, assisting him in 1706 in completing the frescoes of the Assumption of the Virgin on the dome of the Forlì cathedral. His first independent work, Juno on the clouds, was painted in 1705. He also appears to have worked in the studio of Giuseppe Maria Crespi.
In 1710 Benković painted the altarpiece of St. Andrew on the cross surrounded by St. Bartholomew, St. Carolus Borromei, St. Lucia, and St. Apollonia for the church of Madonna del Piombo in Bologna
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,...
, later transferred to the parish church of Senonches near Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. By 1715, he came to the service of Prince Lothar Franz Schönborn and was to complete four large canvas masterpieces for the gallery in the Schloss Weißenstein in the town of Pommersfelden
Pommersfelden
Pommersfelden is a community in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg.-Constituent communities:The community of Pommersfelden is subdivided into four Gemarkungen with a total of ten settled centres, each given here with its own population figure:*Gemarkung Oberndorf:-Population...
: Apollo and Marcia, Hagar and Ishmael in the desert, Iphigenia’s sacrifice and Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.
The dramatic, often tortured, poses and lighting of his figures are placed within earthy tenebrist backgrounds, He uses the Piazzetta's and Sebastiano Ricci
Sebastiano Ricci
Sebastiano Ricci was an Italian painter of the late Baroque school of Venice. About the same age as Piazzetta, and an elder contemporary of Tiepolo, he represents a late version of the vigorous and luminous Cortonesque style of grand manner fresco painting.-Early years:He was born in Belluno, son...
's unfinished and ragged brushstrokes, but superimposes a startling mystical imprint that is often foreign to the magisterial and olympian Venetian painting, and more akin to the Baroque painters from Northern Italy, Alessandro Magnasco
Alessandro Magnasco
Alessandro Magnasco , also known as il Lissandrino, was an Italian late-Baroque painter active mostly in Milan and Genoa...
and Francesco Cairo
Francesco Cairo
Francesco Cairo was an Italian painter active in Baroque Lombardy and Piedmont.He was born and died in Milan. It is not known where he obtained his early training though he is strongly influenced by the circle of il Morazzone, in works such as the Saint Teresa altarpiece in the Certosa di Pavia.In...
.
Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac , is probably the painting that disappeared from the castle of Pommersfelden
Pommersfelden
Pommersfelden is a community in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg.-Constituent communities:The community of Pommersfelden is subdivided into four Gemarkungen with a total of ten settled centres, each given here with its own population figure:*Gemarkung Oberndorf:-Population...
at the beginning of the 19th century. Until that time, the painting was attributed to Piazzetta.
After his death, Benković gradually fell into oblivion. His paintings used to be attributed to Piazzetta, Cignani, amongst others.