Francesco Fracanzano

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Francesco Fracanzano: From the life of Saint Gregory of Armenia . 1635, Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno, Naples
Francesco Fracanzano: Dionysius Cato

Life

Francesco Fracanzano (* 1612 in Monopoli , † 1656 in Naples ) was a Neapolitan painter; he is considered an important representative of naturalism in the city's baroque era , also known by his nickname or pseudonym Ciccio Fracanzano .

He was born in Apulia , but came to Naples as early as 1622, where, like his brother Cesare, from around 1630 he worked in the workshop of the painter Jusepe de Ribera , known as Spagnoletto because of his origin from Spain . In 1632 Fracanzano married the sister of the painter Salvator Rosa . Like Ribera, both painters are assigned to the Neapolitan School .

The Fracanzano style is close to that of Ribera, and it shows a close connection to the master of the Annunciation to the Shepherds . Like him, Fracanzano depicts both religiosity and the social conditions of the city in a naturalistic and detailed style. He often uses a typically dark background and strong colors for the clothes of his figures. His work expresses sympathy for the hard lot of the common people at the time.

Fracanzano took part in the Masaniello uprising of the poor population of Naples against the Spanish tax increases in 1647 , after which he was only saved from punishment by influential friends. However, he was involved in another uprising in 1656 and was executed for it.

Works (selection)

In addition to the paintings in the churches of San Gregorio Armeno and Trinità dei Pellegrini in Naples, which are regarded as his masterpieces , numerous paintings by Francesco Fracanzano have been preserved in museums. There are also several works in private ownership. The catalog of works includes the following works:

  • Apostle ( Museo di Capodimonte , Naples)
  • The Prodigal Son (Pinacoteca Provincial, Bari)
  • The Prodigal Son (Museo di Capodimonte, Naples)
  • Dionysius Cato (private property)
  • Ecce Homo (1647) (Harris Collection, New York)
  • Heraklit (1640, Kunsthistorisches Museum , Vienna)
  • Man with a mirror (Socrates ?; copy based on a missing original by his teacher Jusepe de Ribera ) (private collection, London)
  • Paulus (attributed to; The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle )
  • Peter (c. 1635, Boblot Collection, Paris)
  • Death of Saint Joseph (1652, Chiesa della Trinità dei Pellegrini , Naples)
  • Two pictures from the life of Saint Gregory of Armenia (1635, Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno , Naples)

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Touring Club of Italy (ed.): Naples and the Amalfi Coast (Heritage Guides to Italy) . Milan 2003, p. 18
  2. ↑ Mary Farquhar (No. Woenum (ed.)): Biographical catalog of the principal Italian Painters. Designed as a Handbook to the Picture Gallery by a Lady. London 1855, p. 63
  3. ^ Sotheby's New York auction house, sale offer January 25, 2008, lot 228

literature

  • B. de Dominici: Vite dei Pittori, Scultori, ed Architetti Napolitani. Volume 3. Naples 1742, p. 82ff
  • R. Longhi: GB Spinelli ei naturalisti napoletani del Seicento . In: Paragone. Arte , 20.1969, pp. 42-52
  • Francesco Fracanzano . In: The Grove Dictionary of Art. Oxford 2000
  • Touring Club of Italy (Ed.): Naples and the Amalfi Coast (Heritage Guides to Italy) . Milan 2003, p. 18
personal data
SURNAME Fracanzano, Francesco
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian painter of naturalism in the Baroque period
DATE OF BIRTH 1612
PLACE OF BIRTH Monopoli
DATE OF DEATH 1656
Place of death Naples