Francisco Leonardoni facts for kids
Francisco Leonardoni (1654–1711) was an Italian painter from the Baroque period. He was mostly active in Spain, where he created many important artworks.
Early Life and Move to Spain
Francisco Leonardoni was born in Venice, Italy, in 1654. He studied art there, learning the skills of painting. However, he had to leave Venice and traveled across different parts of Europe. In 1680, he finally settled in Madrid, the capital of Spain.
Becoming a Royal Painter
In Madrid, Leonardoni became known for his amazing portrait miniatures. These are very small, detailed paintings of people's faces. He also painted several larger pictures for churches.
A big change happened in June 1694. After the death of a famous painter named Claudio Coello, Francisco Leonardoni was chosen for an important job. He became the official painter for Queen Mariana of Neuburg. This was a great honor and showed how talented he was.
Famous Artworks
Leonardoni created many beautiful paintings for churches in Spain.
- For the church of the Convent of Atocha in Madrid, he painted two important scenes: Marriage of St. Joseph and Death of St. Joseph.
- At the church of San Gerónimo el Real, he painted a large altar-piece called the Annunciation. This is a religious painting showing an angel appearing to Mary.
- He also worked on restoring a large altar painting called the Transfiguration. This was at the Salvador church in Leganés and was finished in 1702.
Francisco Leonardoni continued to paint and work in Madrid until he passed away in 1711. His art helped shape the Baroque style in Spain.
