Felice Giani facts for kids
Felice Giani (born December 17, 1758 – died January 10, 1823) was a famous Italian painter. He painted in the Neoclassic style. This means his art often showed scenes and ideas from ancient Greece and Rome.
Contents
Life and Art Career
Early Life and Training
Felice Giani was born in a town called San Sebastiano Curone. This town is near Alessandria, Italy. He later moved to Pavia to study art. In Pavia, he learned from artists like Carlo Bianchi and Antonio Galli Bibiena.
In 1778, Giani moved to Bologna. There, he joined the studios of Domenico Pedrini and Ubaldo Gandolfi. Soon after, he went to Rome. In Rome, he helped decorate the Palazzo Altieri. From 1780 to 1786, he worked in different art studios in Rome. He studied with famous painters such as Pompeo Batoni and Christoph Unterberger.
Working in Faenza and Bologna
After his time in Rome, Giani returned north to Faenza. He worked with Serafino Barozzi, who was a master of quadratura painting. This is a style that makes flat walls look like they have deep spaces. He also worked with Giovanni Battista Ballanti.
In Faenza, Giani worked on many projects. He painted frescoes in important buildings like the Laderchi, Naldi, and Milzetti Palaces. The Milzetti Palace is often seen as his best work.
He also decorated palaces in Bologna. These included the Aldini, Marescalchi, Lambertini Ranuzzi, and Baciocchi Palaces.
Work in Rome and Paris
Giani continued to work in Rome. He painted in the palace of the Spanish Embassy and the Palazzo Quirinale. He also created art in other Italian cities like Forlì, Ferrara, Ravenna, and Venice.
He became friends with French leaders during the time of Napoleon. He even traveled to Paris. There, he painted frescoes in the home of the Secretary of State for the Kingdom of Italy. People say he helped create the French Empire style of art there.
Later Studies and Achievements
Giani first studied in Pavia. Then, with help from Marchese Luigi Botta, he continued his studies in Bologna from 1778 to 1779. He also studied at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. His teachers there included Bartoni, Cristoforo Unterberger, and architect Giovanni Antonio Antolini.
In 1796 and 1797, he returned to Faenza. He worked with Serafino Lodovico Barozzi again. He helped decorate the Galleria dei Cento Pacifici. Giani also helped start the first public drawing school in Faenza in 1796.
He opened his own art studio in Faenza. Some of his students became artists themselves. These included Gaetano Bertolani, Antonio Trentanove, the Ballanti Graziani brothers, and Marcantonio Trifogli.
In 1784, he won second prize in a painting contest. This was at the Academy of Parma. His painting was called Samson and Delilah. In 1811, he joined the Accademia di San Luca. In 1819, he joined the Congregation of the Virtuosi of the Pantheon.
Felice Giani died in Rome in 1823. He fell from his horse. He is buried in the church of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte.
Legacy
Felice Giani's artwork is kept in important collections. One place where his work can be seen is the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
