Cosimo Fancelli facts for kids
Cosimo Fancelli (born around 1620, died April 3, 1688) was a talented Italian sculptor. He lived and worked mostly in Rome during the Baroque period. The Baroque style was a time of grand, dramatic art. Cosimo Fancelli often worked with a famous painter named Pietro da Cortona. He also impressed another very famous artist, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who thought Fancelli was one of the best sculptors in Rome.
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Who Was Cosimo Fancelli?
Cosimo Fancelli was born in Rome. His father, Carlo Fancelli, was a stonecutter. Cosimo followed in his father's footsteps. He also followed his older brother, Giacomo Antonio Fancelli, into art. Both brothers started their careers helping out in the studio of the legendary Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Early Works and Collaborations
Around 1645, Cosimo created a relief sculpture for a church called Santa Maria Portae Paradisi. A relief is a sculpture that is carved into a flat surface. Around 1646, he sculpted a statue of "Justice" for the Church of the Gesù.
In 1647 and 1648, Cosimo and his brother Giacomo worked together. They made stucco figures for St. Peter's Basilica. Stucco is a type of plaster that can be molded. They also helped decorate the pillars there. Cosimo was also skilled at fixing and restoring old statues.
Working with Pietro da Cortona
In 1647, Cosimo Fancelli began a long partnership with Pietro da Cortona. They worked together on many projects. One big project was decorating the Santa Maria in Vallicella church. This work took them about 20 years!
In 1664 and 1665, Fancelli created beautiful white and gold stucco frames. These frames surrounded Cortona's large painting on the ceiling of the church. He worked with another sculptor, Ercole Ferrata, on this project.
Famous Sculptures and Projects
Cosimo and his brother also sculpted the figure of the Nile River. This sculpture is part of the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona. By 1652, Bernini already saw Cosimo as one of Rome's top sculptors.
Fancelli also made a bronze altarpiece called "Deposition." An altarpiece is a work of art placed behind an altar in a church. He based this piece on a drawing by Cortona. Many people think this is one of Fancelli's best works. It is located in the Chigi Chapel at Santa Maria della Pace.
Cortona and Fancelli continued to work together on many church decorations. These included Santi Luca e Martina (around 1649), Santa Maria della Pace (1656), and San Carlo al Corso (after 1665). They also worked on the ceiling of the Chiesa Nuova (1662–65). For an altar in Santa Maria in Via Lata (1661), Fancelli created a relief showing the "Rest on the Flight into Egypt."
He also worked with another famous architect, Francesco Borromini. They collaborated on the Re Magi Chapel.
In 1668, Cortona designed a ceiling painting for the Gavotti chapel. Fancelli created a sculptural relief for the altar there. In 1669, Bernini asked Fancelli to finish the Angel with Sudarium sculpture. This angel is on the Ponte Sant'Angelo bridge in Rome.
Later Career and Life
Later in his career, Cosimo Fancelli worked for two important Roman families. These were the Borghese and Altieri families. His brother Francesco often helped him. One of Fancelli's students was Francesco Cavallini.
Cosimo Fancelli was a member of the Accademia di San Luca. This was a famous academy for artists in Rome. He married Margherita Fiammetti in 1654. They had two daughters. Cosimo Fancelli lived his whole life in the same area of Rome where he was born. He passed away in Rome on April 3, 1688. He is buried at San Nicola da Tolentino.
Images for kids
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The Chigi Chapel at Santa Maria della Pace, where Fancelli's "Deposition" altarpiece is located.
Sources
- Getty ULAN entry
See also
In Spanish: Cosimo Fancelli para niños
