- NameFrancesco Trevisani
- Sexmale
- Nationality/DatesItalian, born 1656, dead 1746
BiographyFrancesco Trevisani trained in Venice under the
direction of Antonio Zanchi. In 1678 he moved
to Rome, where he entered the circle of Cardinal
Flavio Chigi. The cardinal commissioned two
paintings for the Siena Cathedral, Christ with
St Philip and St James (1687) and the Martyrdom
of the Four Crowned Saints (1688), which show
influences from Carlo Maratta and his circle.
Trevisani’s most important patron and protector
was Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, who introduced
the painter to the Accademia dell’Arcadia, where
he later became a member in 1712. The ideals of
the academy profoundly influenced Trevisani and
are reflected in works like Cain and Abel (Palazzo
Barberini, Rome) and Joseph’s Dream (Uffizi,
Florence), which are distinguished by their
simple and idyllic compositions and a delicate,
tenuous palette. Trevisani received important
ecclesiastical commissions, like the Martyrdom
of St Andrew (Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, Rome)
and the Death of St Joseph (Sacripanti Chapel,
Sant’Ignazio, Rome). He was also appreciated
as a portraitist and worked both for the Roman
market and for visiting Grand Tourists. Informality
and a sense of intimacy characterize his
Portrait of Cardinal Ottoboni (Bowes Museum,
Barnard Castle) and that of Henry Beaufort
(Duke of Beaufort Collection, Badminton).