Francesco Biangardi

Francesco Biangardi (born February 23, 1832 in Naples , † February 21, 1911 in Caltanissetta ) was an Italian sculptor in Sicily .

Life

Biangardi was the son of the sculptor Vincenzo Biangardi. He spent his childhood in Mussomeli in Sicily, where he was trained in his father's workshop. A visit to the Accademia di Arte in Rome followed . Then he went to his native city of Naples. There he married, and his son Fortunato was born. After the death of his first wife, he married Giovanna Allegra in 1861 , who gave birth to their son Vincenzo. In 1864 he went to Cittanova in Calabria , where he created numerous polychrome wooden figures.

In 1873 he returned to his father's workshop in Mussomeli, where his only twelve-year-old son Vincenzo created his first sculptures for churches. Technically, Biangardi switched to the use of paper mache, canvas and plaster for the construction of his sculptures.

In 1866 he moved from Mussomeli to Caltanissetta, where father and son worked together on assignments. In 1890 his extremely talented son Vincenzo died, probably a violent death. In terms of style, the work of Francesco and Vincenzo Biangardi can hardly be distinguished. What is remarkable about both artists is the anatomically precise implementation of the figures, which in their folklore approach the tradition of Neapolitan and Sicilian crib figures.

Francesco Biangardi's attempt to restore a wooden crucifix by Umile da Petralia turned out to be a failure, as he completely alienated the Christ body with a new color version.

One of his students was Giuseppe Emma (1890)

Francesco Biangardi: “Pietà”, (1866) from the “Vare” by Cittanova

Francesco Biangardi: "Christ in Prayer" (1889) from the "Vare" by Cittanova

Works (selection)

• Chiesa del Carmelo ( Mussomeli ): Madonna del Carmelo and Madonna della Pace
• Chiesa San Giovanni (Mussomeli): Madonna of Sorrows ( 1875 ) and Jesus child
• Chiesa di San Domenico (Mussomeli): Madonna dei Miracoli ( 1876 ) and Madonna del Rosario (1876)
• Chiesa di San Gioacchino e Sant'Anna detta "dei Monti" (Mussomeli): Madonna Assunta
• Cappella Sorce Malaspina (Mussomeli): Madonna del Riparo (1875) and Baby Jesus
• Chiesa di Sant'Antonio Abate (Mussomeli): Sant'Eligio
• Chiesa di San Sebastiano ( Caltanissetta ): Sant'Alfonso di Liguori , San Biagio and Madonna, child with Johannes and Maria Magdalena
• Cattedrale (Caltanissetta): Madonna and John the Baptist
• Chiesa di San Giuseppe (Caltanissetta): Madonna della Medaglia Miracolosa and Lamentation
• Chiesa della Saccara (Caltanissetta): Lamentation
• Chiesa Prestiannicozzo di Naro (Caltanissetta): Pietà
• Cimitero Angeli (Caltanissetta): statue on the grave of the Saetta family
• Santuario Signore della Città (Caltanissetta): Francis
• Chiesa di San Pio X. (Caltanissetta): 15 Stations of the Cross, from 1883 , started by the son Vincenzo, until 1902 completed by Francesco Biangardi
• Chiesa di Santa Maria la Nova (Naples): James the Elder
• 11 Stations of the Cross (Cittanova): - Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane ( 1865 ) ; - Flagellation of Christ (1865) ; - Coronation of Thorns (1865) ; -Ecce Homo ( 1892 ) ; - Carrying the Cross (1865) ; -Christ in Prayer ( 1889 ) ; - Crucifixion ( 1868 ) ; -The Mary under the Cross (1883) ; -Maria Magdalena ( 1867 ) ; -Pietà ( 1866 ) ; - Weeping ( 1895 ) .
• Chiesa di San Giuseppe (Cittanova): Joseph and the Jesusknabe and Johannesknabe
• Chiesa Madre (Cittanova): Madonna della Pace ( 1873 )
• Chiesa San Antonio Abate ( Ispica ): Santa Lucia

literature

• Felice Dell'Utri, Placido D'Orto, Rosolino La Mattina, Silvano Riggio: I Biangardi. La vita, l'epoca, le opere (= Collana "arte" 2). Edizioni Lussografica, Caltanissetta 1992, p. 222.

Web links

http://www.cittanovaonline.it/fbiangar.htm