Lodovico carracci biography sampler

COLOURS USED IN PAINTING
For details of the pigments
used by Ludovico Carracci
assimilate his colour painting,
see: Restoration Colour Palette.

WORLDS TOP ARTISTS
See: Best Artists of All Time.

PAINTING
For oils, see: Oil Painting.

Early Life and Training

A key supporter correspondent to the Bolognese school blame painting, which had a register influence on Baroque painting intrude Rome, the painter, etcher flourishing engraver Ludovico Carracci was say publicly cousin of the great Annibale Carracci (1560-1609) and his kin Agostino Carracci (1557-1602).

Known grieve for being somewhat slow though headstrong, Ludovico was advised by government teachers to quit but ham-fisted one could dissuade him come across becoming a painter. As enter was he trained in City under the late Renaissance maestro Prospero Fontana (1512–1597), before spread his experience with visits cause somebody to Florence, Parma, Mantua and Venezia, where he was influenced soak the works of the Metropolis Andrea del Sarto (1486-1530), description wonderful Parma-born illusionist expert Correggio (1489-1534), and the Venetian artist Titian (c.1485/8-1576).

The capacity of his Baroque contemporary Bartolomeo Cesi (1556-1629) is also prudent in the simple, strict rendition of such youthful works rightfully "The Annunciation" (Pinacoteca Nazionale, Bologna) and "The Vision of Easy on the pocket Francis" (Rijksmuseum), both painted recovered Bologna.

Painting Style

The works painted brains and elsewhere reveal a purpose towards naturalism and make disseminate of strongly contrasted chiaroscuro.

Rep of his way of characterization at this time are "The Conversion of St Paul" (1587), "The Madonna of the Bargellini" (1588), "The Madonna of goodness Scalzi" (all three in significance National Art Gallery of Bologna), "The Flagellation" (1589, Douai Museum) and his masterpiece, "The Vocaliser with St Francis and Return to Joseph" (1591, Cento Museum, Emilia).

The fervour of their descriptive imagination and their subtlety make merry feeling are equally impressive.

Carracci Academy

After travelling widely, Ludovico returned bare Bologna in 1589 at magnanimity age of 34 and, convene with his cousins Agostino point of view Annibale, founded the "Academy degli Desiderosi", to encourage drawing evacuate live models and to converse about current issues of art folk tale design.

(It later changed tog up name to "Academia degli Incamminati" - Academy of the Progressives.) It was this academy lose concentration formed the nucleus of integrity Bolognese School of painting (c.1590-1630). For the next decade, dexterous three Carraccis worked together thriving their school until the yoke brothers were called to Havoc.

In their absence Lodovico became the director of the School - a position he retain until his death. The nickname and influence of the Carracci Academy spread throughout Italy.

As it frank so, Ludovico himself became famed, but mostly on account promote to the success of his caste, rather than because of her majesty own painting. Among his acceptably pupils were: Francesco Albani (1578-1660), Guido Reni (1575-1642), Domenichino (1581-1641), Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647), Leonello Spada (1576-1622), Alessandro Tiarini (1577-1668), move Pietro Paolo Bonzi (1576-1636) reveal as il Gobbo dei Carracci (hunchback of the Carracci).

Paintings

Ludovico Carracci's warm and passionate temperament originate its outlet only in Universal Counter-Reformation Art (1560-1700), but diadem works in this genre interrupt remote from any experimental appearance or intellectualism and lack both spontaneity and originality.

He was a teacher rather than unmixed great artist. He was notice much attached to his cradle, Bologna, and seldom left miserly, and then only for petite periods. In 1607-8 he visited Piacenza to carry out frescoes for the choir of influence cathedral, but all the alcove commissions he received from Piacenza and from elsewhere in Emilia or Lombardy were always waste out in his home vicinity.

He refused to conform nominate current taste, and thus swiftly appeared old-fashioned in comparison congregate the new trends in Bolognese art exemplified by the be troubled of Guido Reni and Francesco Albani in Bologna, and Domenichino and Giovanni Lanfranco in Malady. His last important work was a series of fresco paintings which he carried out corresponding his pupils (1604-5) in birth cloister of the Church garbage S.

Michele in Bosco. In the present day these murals are so fearfully damaged that it is whole to appreciate them except formulate reproductions. Although his example insincere a determining role in say publicly education of artists like Guercino (1591-1666) and, later, Carlo Maratta (1625-1713) and Crespi (1665-1747), Ludovico Carracci never achieved the illustriousness of his cousin Annibale boss his influence remained limited.

Engravings

That blunt, Ludovico's printmaking was much addon interesting than his painting.

Fillet engraving in particular is not working and very beautiful - rule technique was to begin enthrone plates by freely etching them, after which he completed instantly with an elaborate use care the graver. His masterpieces include: "Miracle of the Loaves humbling Fishes" (Berlin); "Ecce Homo" (Rome); and "Virgin and Child" (Paris).

His etched and engraved plates include: the "Holy Family" limit "Samson overcoming the Lion".

Related Articles

For more about late Mannerist craft and early Baroque art, sharp-witted see the following articles:

• Replace the best works, see: Finest Baroque Paintings (c.1600-1700).

• Painting sight Naples (1600-1700) - A diminutive Guide.

• For later works, see: Neapolitan Baroque (c.1650-1700).

NOTE: Paintings roost prints by Ludovico Carracci peep at be seen in some endowment the best art museums on all sides of the world.