Angelo Bronzino - The Great Italian, Sixteenth Century Portraitist of the Italian Mannerism Movement

By Annette Labedzki

Agnolo di Cosimo, or Angelo Bronzino, or Bronzino II, one of the most respected Italian painters of the sixteenth century, was born on November 17, 1503, in Florence, Italy. The artistically intelligent portraitist had adopted the painting style called 'Italian Mannerism,' where sophistication and restraint towards 'Naturalism' was the essence.

Under the tutelage of the knowledgeable painter, Pontormo, Angelo Bronzino got the exposure of portrait painting. His teacher even created a portrait of the child Angelo, in his 'Joseph in Egypt' series, now exhibited at the National Gallery, London. In 1520s, Angelo and Pontormo were commissioned some collaborative assignments, including "Annunciation" and "The Deposition from the Cross," both altarpieces that adorned Capponi Chapel in Santa Felicita, Florence. In 1530, the artist painted even great literary figures, such as Dante and Petrarch.

In 1539, Angelo Bronzino was commissioned the decorative work for the wedding of Cosimo de' Medici with Eleonora of Toledo, the daughter of the Viceroy of Naples. His artistic brilliance profoundly influenced the Duke, eventually resulting in his appointment as the Duke's court painter. The contemporary European artists deeply admired the portraits Angelo created during his job. His works were presented with a huge erudition.

In 1541-1542, Angelo Bronzino created his religious art piece, "Crossing the Red Sea," a fresco, adorning the Chapel of Eleanora di Toledo in the Palazzo Vecchio. The creation depicted the Florentine court in its full fervor and zest. One of his prominent portraits, "Eleonora of Toledo, 1544," is famous for its scrupulous attention to the details of the subject's costume. In fact, the costume overpowers the personality of the subject. In 1545, Angelo Bronzino created his magnum opus, "Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time," an allegory painting. The artwork proved controversial for depicting bold eroticism, while reflecting a behavioral ambiguity of its different characters. His other masterpiece, "Andrea Doria as Neptune, 1550-55," made its mark for its heroic theme, depicting a public personality as a mythical figure in the nude. "Resurrection of the Virgin Mary" (1552) and "The Story of Joseph and Deposition of Christ" (1565), are a couple of Bronzio's other famous works.

In1563, Angelo Bronzino co-founded Accademia del Disegno. He died on November 23, 1572, in Florence, Italy. Today, along with Florence and the National Gallery of Art, London, many other art galleries display his works.

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Is is also a venue for artists to display and sell their art . Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited. Please visit the website at http://www.labedzki-art.com
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