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==Biography==
==Biography==
In 1540, after the death of his father, he was brought up and trained in art by a close friend, often referred to as his 'uncle', the mannerist painter [[Agnolo Bronzino]], whose name he sometimes assumed in his pictures.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Allori, Alessandro|volume=1|page=699|short=y}}</ref> In some ways, Allori is the last of the line of prominent Florentine painters, of generally undiluted Tuscan artistic heritage: [[Andrea del Sarto]] worked with [[Fra Bartolomeo]] (as well as [[Leonardo da Vinci]]), [[Pontormo]] briefly worked under Andrea, and trained [[Bronzino]], who trained Allori. Subsequent generations in the city would be strongly influenced by the tide of [[Baroque]] styles pre-eminent in other parts of Italy.
In 1540, after the death of his father, Allori was brought up and trained in art by a close friend, often referred to as his 'uncle', the mannerist painter [[Agnolo Bronzino]], whose name he sometimes assumed in his pictures.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Allori, Alessandro|volume=1|page=699|short=y}}</ref> In some ways, Allori is the last of the line of prominent Florentine painters, of generally undiluted Tuscan artistic heritage: [[Andrea del Sarto]] worked with [[Fra Bartolomeo]] (as well as [[Leonardo da Vinci]]), [[Pontormo]] briefly worked under Andrea, and trained [[Bronzino]], who trained Allori. Subsequent generations in the city would be strongly influenced by the tide of [[Baroque]] styles pre-eminent in other parts of Italy.

In the prime of his career, Allori headed one of the "two most important workshops in Florence in the second half of the 16th century" (the other being headed by [[Santi di Tito]]).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lecchini Giovannoni |first1=Simona |date=2003 |editor-last1=Falletti |editor-first1=Franca |editor-last2=Scudieri |editor-first2=Magnolia |title=Around the David: The Great Art of Michelangelo's Century |publisher=Giunti Editor S.p.A., Florence-Milan |orig-date=1st pub. 2003 |pages=77–81 |chapter=Chapter 6: In the House of the Saints |isbn=88-09-03316-7 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref>


[[Sydney Joseph Freedberg|Freedberg]] derides Allori as derivative, claiming he illustrates "the ideal of Maniera by which art (and style) are generated out of pre-existing art." The cold and polished appearance of his painted figures makes them resemble statues as much as living beings.
[[Sydney Joseph Freedberg|Freedberg]] derides Allori as derivative, claiming he illustrates "the ideal of Maniera by which art (and style) are generated out of pre-existing art." The cold and polished appearance of his painted figures makes them resemble statues as much as living beings.

Revision as of 21:53, 28 August 2022

Alessandro Allori
Self-portrait by Alessandro Allori, ca. 1555
Born31 May 1535
Florence, Italy
Died22 September 1607(1607-09-22) (aged 72)
Florence, Italy
Known forPainting
MovementMannerism

Alessandro di Cristofano di Lorenzo del Bronzino Allori (Florence, 31 May 1535 – 22 September 1607) was an Italian painter of the late Mannerist Florentine school.

Portrait of Grand Duchess Bianca Capello de Medici, by Allori, Dallas Museum of Art

Biography

In 1540, after the death of his father, Allori was brought up and trained in art by a close friend, often referred to as his 'uncle', the mannerist painter Agnolo Bronzino, whose name he sometimes assumed in his pictures.[1] In some ways, Allori is the last of the line of prominent Florentine painters, of generally undiluted Tuscan artistic heritage: Andrea del Sarto worked with Fra Bartolomeo (as well as Leonardo da Vinci), Pontormo briefly worked under Andrea, and trained Bronzino, who trained Allori. Subsequent generations in the city would be strongly influenced by the tide of Baroque styles pre-eminent in other parts of Italy.

In the prime of his career, Allori headed one of the "two most important workshops in Florence in the second half of the 16th century" (the other being headed by Santi di Tito).[2]

Freedberg derides Allori as derivative, claiming he illustrates "the ideal of Maniera by which art (and style) are generated out of pre-existing art." The cold and polished appearance of his painted figures makes them resemble statues as much as living beings.

Among his collaborators was Giovanni Maria Butteri and his main pupil was Giovanni Bizzelli. Cristofano dell'Altissimo, Cesare Dandini, Aurelio Lomi, John Mosnier, Alessandro Pieroni, Giovanni Battista Vanni, and Monanni also were his pupils.[3] Allori was one of the artists, working under Vasari, included in the decoration of the Studiolo of Francesco I.

He was the father of the painter Cristofano Allori (1577–1621).

Main works

Christ with Mary and Martha, oil on wood, 125 x 118 cm
Kunsthistorisches Museum

In 2006 the BBC foreign correspondent Sir Charles Wheeler returned an original Alessandro Allori painting to the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. He had been given it in Germany in 1952, but only recently realized its origin and that it must have been looted in the wake of World War II. The work is possibly a portrait of Eleonora (Dianora) di Toledo de' Medici, niece of Eleonora di Toledo, and measures 12 cm x 16 cm.[5]

Gallery

  • Maria de Medici (probably), c. 1555
    Maria de Medici (probably), c. 1555
  • Holy Family with Cardinal Fernando de Médicis, 1584
    Holy Family with Cardinal Fernando de Médicis, 1584
  • The Body of Christ Anointed by Two Angels, c. 1593
    The Body of Christ Anointed by Two Angels, c. 1593
  • Portrait of a Lady in Black and White, 1590s
    Portrait of a Lady in Black and White, 1590s
  • Christ with Mary and Martha, 1625
    Christ with Mary and Martha, 1625

References

  1. ^ "Allori, Alessandro" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 699.
  2. ^ Lecchini Giovannoni, Simona (2003) [1st pub. 2003]. "Chapter 6: In the House of the Saints". In Falletti, Franca & Scudieri, Magnolia (eds.). Around the David: The Great Art of Michelangelo's Century. Giunti Editor S.p.A., Florence-Milan. pp. 77–81. ISBN 88-09-03316-7.
  3. ^ Hobbes J.R. page 5
  4. ^ a b c d Web Gallery of Art, image collection, virtual museum, searchable database of European fine arts (1100-1850)
  5. ^ "Reporter returns looted portrait". BBC. 1 June 2006.

External links

Media related to Alessandro Allori at Wikimedia Commons

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