DESIDERIO

Key facts

Lived

1978–1644, French^[1]

Works held in

19 museums

Wikipedia

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• What is DESIDERIO known for?+

  DESIDERIO is known for his site-responsive, large-scale work. He has participated in the Venice Biennale, the Havana Biennale, and the Biennale Fin del Mundo in Valparaiso, Chile.
• What is DESIDERIO's most famous work?+

  Velázquez is celebrated for his portraits and genre scenes. Determining a single "most famous" work is challenging, as several paintings have secured his place in art history. *Las Meninas* (The Maids of Honour), created in 1656, is a strong contender. This complex composition, housed in the Prado Museum, depicts the Infanta Margarita attended by her maids. The painting includes a reflection of King Philip IV and Queen Mariana, and a self-portrait of Velázquez himself. Its sophisticated use of space and perspective has made it a subject of continuous study. Another possibility is *The Surrender of Breda*, dating from 1633-1635^[1]. This historical painting commemorates a Spanish victory in the Netherlands. Rather than focusing on heroics, Velázquez emphasises the humanity of both sides. *The Waterseller of Seville*, from 1623, is an early work that demonstrates the influence of Caravaggio. The painting's naturalism and attention to detail made it popular.
• What should I know about DESIDERIO's prints?+

  When considering a DESIDERIO print, bear in mind some key aspects of printmaking. An "original print" is conceived as a print, made solely as a print, and usually part of a numbered, signed edition. Each print in the edition is an original, created from a plate, stone, screen or block. The artist decides the number of prints in the edition. Numbering is a standard convention, with each print assigned a number (e.g. 12/25, meaning the 12th print of 25). Early prints might not be numbered or signed. A reproduction is a copy of artwork from another medium, often made using photomechanical methods. Numbering or signing a reproduction does not make it an original print. Printmaking is an unregulated activity, but edition claims add value if they are truthful. Claims and descriptions are subject to trade description legislation. The edition number is written on the bottom left margin of the print, the title in the middle, and the signature on the right, always in pencil.
• What style or movement did DESIDERIO belong to?+

  Desiderio, also known as Desiderio da Settignano, was an Italian Renaissance sculptor. He was active in Florence during the 15th century. During this period, Florence was a centre for artistic innovation. Artists were moving away from the Gothic style and developing a new approach based on classical ideals. This new style is now known as the Renaissance. Desiderio's work shows the influence of artists such as Donatello and Lorenzo Ghiberti. He is known for his marble sculptures, particularly his portrait busts and reliefs. These works often feature graceful figures with delicate features. He worked alongside other sculptors exploring similar themes, such as Antonio Rossellino and Mino da Fiesole. His style is characterised by its technical skill and emotional expressiveness. Desiderio's sculptures are considered important examples of early Renaissance art.
• What techniques or materials did DESIDERIO use?+

  Technique, for an artist, includes both methods and materials. It also reflects the artist's intention. Some artists begin with ideas, then turn to the practicalities of craft. Others, like Renoir (who painted figures on porcelain) and Georges Braque, start as craftsmen and then move towards ideas. When considering painting technique, it is important not to mistake the means for the end. The mechanical operations contribute to the durability of the work. Artists may use manual and mechanical operations to organise, shape and mould raw material according to artistic intentions. The process is largely instinctive. Francis Bacon said that all painting is accident. He foresees it in his mind, yet hardly ever carries it out as he foresees it. It transforms itself by the actual paint. Pierre Auguste Renoir said that there is not a single process that can be made into a formula.
• What was DESIDERIO known for?+

  Without more specific information, it is difficult to define what Desiderio was known for. The provided texts contain scattered references, but do not coalesce into a clear picture of his artistic focus or reputation. One passage mentions that someone "painted", but the subject of their work is not specified. Another passage refers to "the beheading" in some work. It is impossible to say whether these refer to works by Desiderio, or what the context might be. There is a reference to someone being "generously outfitted" but again, the connection to Desiderio or his work is absent. Similarly, the phrases "in Turkish clothes" and "raiment of camel’s" appear, but without context, their relevance is unclear. Given the limited and fragmented nature of the available information, a definitive statement about Desiderio's notability cannot be made.
• When did DESIDERIO live and work?+

  Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, usually known as Caravaggio, was born in either Milan or the town of Caravaggio in 1571. His parents, Fermo di Bernardino Merisi and Lucia Aratori, were natives of Caravaggio. In 1576, the family moved from Milan to Caravaggio, probably to avoid the plague. Caravaggio's father died the following year. In 1584, Caravaggio was apprenticed to the Bergamask painter Simone Peterzano in Milan for four years. By 1589, the young artist was documented back in Caravaggio. His mother died there in 1590. By 1592, Caravaggio was living in Caravaggio. Around 1592, he left Milan due to some disputes and travelled to Venice, before arriving in Rome. He worked in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily, receiving important commissions. Caravaggio died in Porto Ercole in 1610.
• Where can I see DESIDERIO's work?+

  To view works attributed to DESIDERIO, consider visiting the following museums: In the United States, you can find art at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (Winter Park, Florida), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond), and the Wolfsonian at Florida International University (Miami Beach). In Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto) holds relevant pieces. In the United Kingdom, visit the Bakelite Museum (Williton), the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, the Geffrye Museum (London), the Manchester Art Gallery, the National Museums of Scotland (Edinburgh), and the Victoria & Albert Museum (London). In Italy, Fondazione Regionale Cristoforo Colombo (Genova), Museo del Bijou di Casalmaggiore, and Museo Richard-Ginori della Manifattura di Doccia (Sesto Fiorentino) may have works on display.
• Where was DESIDERIO from?+

  Desiderio was from Florence, Italy. Florence was a centre for artistic innovation during the Italian Renaissance. The city saw an explosion of creativity in painting, sculpture, and architecture. Wealthy patrons, such as the Medici family, supported artists, commissioning works that would decorate their palaces and churches. This environment allowed artists to experiment with new techniques and ideas, contributing to the development of a distinctive Florentine style. The artistic community in Florence was close-knit. Workshops often trained young artists. They collaborated on large projects. This fostered a sense of shared artistic identity. Artists such as Donatello, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci all spent significant periods in Florence, leaving an impression on the city's artistic output.
• Who did DESIDERIO influence?+

  It is difficult to say exactly who Desiderio might have influenced. However, considering the stylistic evolution of Diego Velázquez, we can see how artists respond to the styles of other artists. Velázquez's paintings from the Seville period share similarities with Caravaggio's work, particularly in format, composition, pictorial space and lighting. Both artists also depict rustic figures. Caravaggio was a noted specialist in the half-length format, which Velázquez also used in his genre paintings, usually called bodegones. Velázquez’s late work, The Spinners, was largely made to proclaim himself a worthy successor to the tradition established by Titian and continued by Rubens. Velázquez was impressionable late in his career and must have been just as impressionable as a young man. He surely did not develop his distinctive naturalism without artistic models.
• Who influenced DESIDERIO?+

  According to period sources, artists of DESIDERIO's era often found inspiration and motivation from their peers. They were also driven by a desire for recognition. Artists sometimes reflected on the accomplishments and status achieved by others, which spurred them to pursue greatness through hard work and study. Furthermore, the art of the Italian masters served as a significant source of influence. These examples and prototypes were readily available; they were sold publicly and could be examined directly. The availability of Italian masterworks allowed artists to study them closely, which provided more fruitful instruction than relying solely on imagination or descriptions. By studying these tangible examples, artists could learn from the past and develop their own skills.
• Who was DESIDERIO?+

  It is difficult to answer this question directly. "Desiderio" is not consistently used as a proper name for a single artist. It may refer to: Carlo Cesare Malvasia (1616-1693^[1]), an aristocratic Bolognese canon, is important to the study of Baroque art because of his history of Bolognese painting and collection of biographies of Bolognese artists, titled the Felsina Pittrice, Vite de Pittori Bolognesi, published in 1678. Alternatively, "Desiderio" may refer to an artist involved with producing engraved title pages, which became a high art form by the early seventeenth century. These images drew from Ovidian mythology and Christian iconography. In 1652, Gianlorenzo Bernini contributed the frontispiece to a Jesuit treatise on optics. This was during a monumental war of ideologies in Italy, in the fields of astronomy and optics.