Andrés Rossi facts for kids
Andres Rossi (born in Madrid in 1771, died in Seville in 1849) was a talented Spanish artist. He was a painter, a draughtsman (someone who draws plans or sketches), a printmaker (who makes art prints), a sculptor, and a writer. He created his art in the cities of Madrid and Seville.
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Biography
Andres Rossi was born in Madrid. You might see his last name spelled in different ways, like Rossi, Rosi, Roszi, Roso, or Rosso. He often signed his work with a double "s," which suggests his family might have originally come from Italy.
Rossi studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid. This was a very important art school. In 1799, he won second place in the Academy's yearly art contest for his drawing of Publio Furio Filo.
He was known as a patriot, meaning he loved his country, especially during the Dos de Mayo Uprising, a famous event in Spanish history. During the Peninsular War, a big conflict with France, he moved to Seville to escape the fighting.
Rossi wanted to be a Court painter, an artist who works for the King. He wrote to King Ferdinand VII twice asking for this job, but his requests were not accepted.
In Seville, he taught art and continued to make his own artworks. In 1814, he became a "Lieutenant Director of Painting" at the Royal Academy of the Three Noble Arts (now called the Royal Academy of Fine Arts). He also gave lectures there. Rossi helped train other artists, like Juan Pérez de Villamayor. In 1829, his important role as Lieutenant Director was confirmed again.
In 1835, he was asked to join a special group. Their job was to list and organize art pieces that would be used to create a new museum in Seville. He worked with other famous artists like Juan de Astorga and José Domínguez Becquer.
Later, in 1841, Queen Isabella II (who was very young at the time, so Espartero was ruling for her) asked him to make a list of all the paintings at the Academy of the Three Noble Arts. In 1845, he also joined the sculpture department at the same academy, working alongside Juan de Astorga and Jose Maria Gutierrez.
Work
Andres Rossi was especially good at making prints. His art often showed scenes from the Bible, military events, or stories from ancient Greece and Rome. He also made prints about important events happening at the time, like Justice executed on Pedro Piñero aka El Maragato.
His strong patriotic feelings during the Peninsular War can be seen in prints like Atrocious murders of Spaniards in 'Prado de Madrid'. This print showed the terrible things that happened during the war.
You can find some of his prints in famous museums. His print called Cornelia at the Duke's feet is in the Museo del Prado. Another print, Allegory of painting, was shown there as part of a special exhibition.
His print Lady drawing is very special because it shows a woman drawing. At that time, it was not common for women to be artists, so this was an unusual and important theme. This print is kept at the Museum of Romanticism in Madrid.
Besides his prints, two of his oil paintings still exist today. One is a still life (a painting of objects like fruit or flowers), which he signed "Andrés Rossi, the Spaniard." The other is a religious painting for an altar, found in the church of El Santo Ángel in Seville.
In 1820, he started writing a book called Spirit of Perspective or Elementary Treaty of Perspective for Artists. This book was about how to draw things so they look like they have depth, which is called perspective. The original book is also at the Museum of Romanticism in Madrid.
Rossi also made sculptures. He is believed to have carved the sculpture of Saint Veronica in 1815 for the El Valle brotherhood's paso (a large float carried in religious parades) in Seville. The original drawing for this sculpture is also at the Museum of Romanticism.
He also worked with other artists to create illustrations for a book by Cervantes, the famous writer of Don Quixote. However, their designs were not chosen.
In 1830, Rossi helped with the renovation of the Alcázar of Seville gardens. He painted scenes from old myths, like stories from Virgil's Aeneid and Theseus in the labyrinth.
He also helped decorate the Museum square in Seville. He was the art director for this project, which was done to celebrate the wedding of Queen Isabella II.
Timeline of his work
Here are some of Andres Rossi's notable works:
- A man (1790-184-?) Spanish National Library
- Saint Isidoro, Archbishop of Seville (1799) Spanish National Library
- Meeting of pilgrims (1802) Spanish National Library
- Justice executed on Pedro Piñero aka El Maragato (18??) Spanish National Library
- Cornelia at the Duke's feet (1810) Museo del Prado
- The Generous Lover (1810) Spanish National Library
- Fifty years (1814) Spanish National Library
- Allegory of painting (18??) Museo del Prado
- Still life (18??) oil on canvas.
- Atrocious murders of Spaniards in 'Prado de Madrid' (18??) National Museum of Archaeology, Madrid.
- Portrait of Ferdinand VII (18??) Spanish National Library
- Saint Veronica sculpture for the El Valle brotherhood (1815), Seville.
- Religious altarpiece (1818), for the church of El Santo Ángel, Seville.
- Lady drawing (1818) Museum of Romanticism, Madrid.
- Spirit of Perspective or Elementary Treaty of Perspective for Artists (1820), a book. Museum of Romanticism, Madrid.
- Gallery paintings (1830) Alcázar of Seville
- The Young Beggar (1844), a copy of a painting by Murillo. Spanish National Library
- The Souls of Purgatory (1844), a copy of a painting by Murillo. Spanish National Library
- Decoration of the museum square for the wedding of Isabella II (1846) museum square, Seville.
See also
In Spanish: Andrés Rossi para niños