Giulio Mancini facts for kids

Giulio Mancini (born February 21, 1559 – died August 22, 1630) was an Italian doctor, art collector, and writer. He lived during the 1600s, a period known as the seicento. His writings are very important because they give us some of the earliest information about famous artists like Caravaggio. His book, Considerazioni, is a key source for understanding art in Rome during the early 17th century.

A Life of Art and Medicine

Giulio Mancini was born in Siena, Italy. He went to the University of Padua. There, he studied medicine, astrology, and philosophy.

Moving to Rome

In 1592, Mancini moved to Rome. He started working as a doctor there. From 1595, he worked at the Hospital of Santo Spirito.

Doctor to the Pope

Mancini became the personal doctor to Pope Urban VIII in 1623. The Pope was a big supporter of the arts. Because of their good relationship, Mancini was given important church roles in 1628. He became an apostolic protonotary and a canon of St. Peter's.

Mancini's Important Writings

Giulio Mancini's writings were not published until the 20th century. His most famous work is Considerazioni sulla pittura (Thoughts on Painting). He wrote this book between 1617 and 1621. However, it was not published until 1956.

This book gives us a great look into the art market in Rome during his time. Mancini even wrote about how to spot fake artworks. This shows that fake art was already a problem in the early 1600s.

His Views on Art

In Considerazioni, Mancini described four main styles of painting in Rome. These included the styles of Caravaggio and Annibale Carracci. He also mentioned Giuseppe Cesari and other mannerist painters like Cristoforo Roncalli.

Mancini knew Caravaggio well. He even treated the artist when he was sick in 1595. Mancini was also friends with Caravaggio's supporter, Francesco Maria del Monte.

Art Dealing

Mancini was also an art dealer. He famously sold Caravaggio's painting, The Death of the Virgin. He sold it to Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua for 280 scudi in 1607. The famous artist Peter Paul Rubens suggested this sale.

His Private Life

Giulio Mancini was known for being interested in many different ideas. He loved art and was an expert on it. He was a member of the Accademia degli Umoristi. This was a literary club started in 1603. Members included writers like Giovanni Battista Guarini and Alessandro Tassoni. Mancini also wrote about various topics, such as dancing and how courtiers behaved.

When he died, Mancini left his money to be given to students in Siena.

Images for kids

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  Apologia dell'occhio, a book by Giulio Mancini, published in 1795.

See also

In Spanish: Giulio Mancini para niños