Giovanni Ludovico Bianconi
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Ludovico Bianconi (Bologna
, 1717 — Perugia
, 1781), was an Italian doctor and antiquarian
, a multi-facetted scholar who was mentor and correspondent of the connoisseur and early art historian, Johann Joachim Winckelmann
. Bianconi was doctor at the court of Joseph Ignaz Philipp von Hessen-Darmstadt
, Prince-Bishop of Augsburg, from 1744 and councillor to Augustus III, Elector of Saxony, at Dresden
.
His Scritti tedeschi (1763) sent from Dresden
to Marchese Filippo Hercolani and to Francesco Algarotti
, described the assembly and furnishing of the Electoral paintings gallery, with which Algarotti had been closely concerned; the collection formed the nucleus of the Gemäldegalerie at Dresden, initiated with the block purchase of some hundred paintings from the Este
collection, Modena, in 1745— which Bianconi enriched with the purchase of Raphael
's Sistine Madonna in 1753— These Scritti tedeschi were edited and set in their historical context by Giovanna Perini (Argelato, 1998).
Bianconi's connections were strongest in Bologna, even among picture dealers who were his rivals in supplying Dresden, and in Florence, through Ignazio Hugford
.
In the changed atmosphere and straightened finances following the Seven Years' War
, Bianconi found it time to return to Italy, where he spent the rest of his career.
Among his published work were a book on Piranesi (1779), Anton Raphael Mengs
(1780) and the disquisition on the Baths of Caracalla
, Descrizione dei circhi particolarmente di quello di Caracalla (published posthumously, 1789).
Early biographies were Mariotti, Delle lodi di L. B., (Perugia), 1781, and Sassoli, Della vita e delle opere di Giovanni Ludovico Bianconi, Bologna, 1885.
His brother Carlo Bianconi, a neoclassical
painter of some reputation, served as secretary to the Accademia di belle arti, at the Brera
, Milan.
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,...
, 1717 — Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
, 1781), was an Italian doctor and antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, a multi-facetted scholar who was mentor and correspondent of the connoisseur and early art historian, Johann Joachim Winckelmann
Johann Joachim Winckelmann
Johann Joachim Winckelmann was a German art historian and archaeologist. He was a pioneering Hellenist who first articulated the difference between Greek, Greco-Roman and Roman art...
. Bianconi was doctor at the court of Joseph Ignaz Philipp von Hessen-Darmstadt
Joseph Ignaz Philipp von Hessen-Darmstadt
Joseph Ignaz Philipp von Hessen-Darmstadt was the Prince-Bishop of Augsburg from 1740 to 1768.-Biography:Joseph Ignaz Philipp von Hessen-Darmstadt was born in Brussels on January 22, 1699, the son of Philip of Hesse-Darmstadt and his wife Princess Marie Therese von Croÿ , daughter of Ferdinand...
, Prince-Bishop of Augsburg, from 1744 and councillor to Augustus III, Elector of Saxony, at Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
.
His Scritti tedeschi (1763) sent from Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
to Marchese Filippo Hercolani and to Francesco Algarotti
Francesco Algarotti
Count Francesco Algarotti was an Italian philosopher and art critic.He also completed engravings.He was born in Venice to a rich merchant. He studied at Rome for a year, and then Bologna, he studied natural sciences and mathematics...
, described the assembly and furnishing of the Electoral paintings gallery, with which Algarotti had been closely concerned; the collection formed the nucleus of the Gemäldegalerie at Dresden, initiated with the block purchase of some hundred paintings from the Este
Este
The House of Este is a European princely dynasty. It is split into two branches; the elder is known as the House of Welf-Este or House of Welf historically rendered in English, Guelf or Guelph...
collection, Modena, in 1745— which Bianconi enriched with the purchase of Raphael
Raphael
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino , better known simply as Raphael, was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form and ease of composition and for its visual achievement of the Neoplatonic ideal of human grandeur...
's Sistine Madonna in 1753— These Scritti tedeschi were edited and set in their historical context by Giovanna Perini (Argelato, 1998).
Bianconi's connections were strongest in Bologna, even among picture dealers who were his rivals in supplying Dresden, and in Florence, through Ignazio Hugford
Ignazio Hugford
Ignazio Hugford, or Ignatius Heckford , was an Italian painter active mostly in Tuscany in an early Neoclassic style.- Life and work :...
.
In the changed atmosphere and straightened finances following the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, Bianconi found it time to return to Italy, where he spent the rest of his career.
Among his published work were a book on Piranesi (1779), Anton Raphael Mengs
Anton Raphael Mengs
Anton Raphael Mengs was a German painter, active in Rome, Madrid and Saxony, who became one of the precursors to Neoclassical painting.- Biography :Mengs was born in 1728 at Ústí nad Labem in Bohemia...
(1780) and the disquisition on the Baths of Caracalla
Baths of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy were Roman public baths, or thermae, built in Rome between AD 212 and 216, during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla.- History :...
, Descrizione dei circhi particolarmente di quello di Caracalla (published posthumously, 1789).
Early biographies were Mariotti, Delle lodi di L. B., (Perugia), 1781, and Sassoli, Della vita e delle opere di Giovanni Ludovico Bianconi, Bologna, 1885.
His brother Carlo Bianconi, a neoclassical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
painter of some reputation, served as secretary to the Accademia di belle arti, at the Brera
Brera
Brera is a district of Milan, ItalyBrera may also refer to:* the Palazzo Brera, a historical building in Brera; the palace also houses:** the Brera Art Academy** the Brera Art Gallery** the Brera Astronomical Observatory...
, Milan.