Giovanna Garzoni is one of the most famous Italian painters of the baroque period. Her portraits and still lifes received special recognition. Although she was born in the city of Ascoli Piceno, her parents both had Venetian roots. Therefore she spent most of her youth in Venice. Probably at about the age of fifteen, she began an apprenticeship with her uncle, the Venetian painter Pietro de Gaia, who in turn was a student of Jacopo Palma the Younger. However, she took on her first commission the following year and created a herbarium for a Roman pharmacist and druggist from Rome. Until she was 30 years old, Garzoni stayed in Venice with some interruptions, learning from her uncle and working. In the meantime, she also learned the art of calligraphy from Giacomo Rogni and subsequently published a book in italics.
At the age of 30 Giovanna Garzoni's education was completed and she decided to leave Venice. She travelled together with her Mattio, who from then on was to become her constant travelling companion. The siblings first went to Naples, where she entered the service of the Spanish viceroy for one year. Then they moved on to Rome, but their stay there was to be short. Word of her talent got around and Christina of France, the wife of the Duke of Savoy, was determined to win her for her court in Turin. The artist followed her wish and worked for the Turin court for about 5 years, where she produced many portraits, miniatures and also her first better known still lifes. During this time she also met some of her painter colleagues such as Fede Galizia and Panfilo Nuvolone. After the death of the Duke, Garzoni left the court and spent two years in Paris, among other places. She returned to Italy and settled as an artist in Florence. Many members of the Medici family and other high-ranking personalities of the city were among her regular customers. Historians believe that Garzoni's works were so sought-after at the time that she could proclaim any price.
For several years Garzoni commuted between Florence and Rome, until she decided to move to Rome. She bought a house very close to the prestigious Accademia di San Luca, but continued to work regularly for the court in Florence. A few years later she regularly attended meetings of the Academy. To this day, however, it remains unclear whether she was ever officially accepted as a member of the Academy. Garzoni married the portraitist Tiberio Tinelli at 22. However, the marriage only lasted one year. Since Garzoni remained single and had no children, she bequeathed her entire fortune to the Academy. Her only condition was that she should be buried in the Santi Luca e Martina, the church of the Academy. Her wish was finally fulfilled 28 years after her death.
Giovanna Garzoni is one of the most famous Italian painters of the baroque period. Her portraits and still lifes received special recognition. Although she was born in the city of Ascoli Piceno, her parents both had Venetian roots. Therefore she spent most of her youth in Venice. Probably at about the age of fifteen, she began an apprenticeship with her uncle, the Venetian painter Pietro de Gaia, who in turn was a student of Jacopo Palma the Younger. However, she took on her first commission the following year and created a herbarium for a Roman pharmacist and druggist from Rome. Until she was 30 years old, Garzoni stayed in Venice with some interruptions, learning from her uncle and working. In the meantime, she also learned the art of calligraphy from Giacomo Rogni and subsequently published a book in italics.
At the age of 30 Giovanna Garzoni's education was completed and she decided to leave Venice. She travelled together with her Mattio, who from then on was to become her constant travelling companion. The siblings first went to Naples, where she entered the service of the Spanish viceroy for one year. Then they moved on to Rome, but their stay there was to be short. Word of her talent got around and Christina of France, the wife of the Duke of Savoy, was determined to win her for her court in Turin. The artist followed her wish and worked for the Turin court for about 5 years, where she produced many portraits, miniatures and also her first better known still lifes. During this time she also met some of her painter colleagues such as Fede Galizia and Panfilo Nuvolone. After the death of the Duke, Garzoni left the court and spent two years in Paris, among other places. She returned to Italy and settled as an artist in Florence. Many members of the Medici family and other high-ranking personalities of the city were among her regular customers. Historians believe that Garzoni's works were so sought-after at the time that she could proclaim any price.
For several years Garzoni commuted between Florence and Rome, until she decided to move to Rome. She bought a house very close to the prestigious Accademia di San Luca, but continued to work regularly for the court in Florence. A few years later she regularly attended meetings of the Academy. To this day, however, it remains unclear whether she was ever officially accepted as a member of the Academy. Garzoni married the portraitist Tiberio Tinelli at 22. However, the marriage only lasted one year. Since Garzoni remained single and had no children, she bequeathed her entire fortune to the Academy. Her only condition was that she should be buried in the Santi Luca e Martina, the church of the Academy. Her wish was finally fulfilled 28 years after her death.
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