Federico Brandani
Encyclopedia
Federico Brandani was an Italian
sculptor and stuccoist who worked in an urbane Mannerist style
as a court artist of Guidobaldo II della Rovere
, Duke of Urbino
.
Born in Urbino
, Brandani was apprenticed there to Giovanni Maria di Casteldurante, a maiolica
artist, between 1538 and 1541.
There are stucco wall and ceiling decorations by Brandani in the Palazzo Ducale, Urbino
. His masterpiece is considered to be his presepio, a nativity scene with life-size stucco figures, which is in the Oratory of the Church of San Giuseppe, Urbino.
For Guidobaldo's wedding with Vittoria Farnese in 1548 Brandani was one of the team that embellished the Palazzo Ducale in Pesaro
, where he collaborated with Taddeo Zuccari
and Ludovico Carracci
. In 1551-53 he worked for Pope Julius III
at Villa Giulia
, Rome, "if, as seems probable, Brandani is the 'Federigo d'Urbino stuccatore' to whom payments are recorded for work 'alle fontane' of the Villa Giulia between September 1552 and June 1553".
From the mid-1550s, Brandani worked on stucco ceilings and other decorations in the Palazzo Tirrani-Castracane in Cagli
for Felice Tiranni. He completed that work in about 1571, when he executed Vulcan's Forge over the fireplace in the Salone. He contributed five high-relief panels to a vaulted ceiling in Palazzo Corboli, Urbino, adapting designs by Taddeo Zuccari, who was working at Villa Giulia when Brandani was there. He also worked on Palazzetto Baviera in Senigallia
(1560); and Palazzo Rocca in Fabriano
. Towards the end of his life he executed stucco decorations in the Castello Brancaleoni, Piobbico
, for Antonio II di Monaldo (d.1598) and in the Urbino chapel at the Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto
, commissioned by Guidobaldo in 1571-72. Another late work is the bas-relief of the Martyrdom of Saint Catherine in the Church of Santa Catarina, Urbino.
A bronze bust of the courtier poet and diplomat Antonio Galli (1510–61) at the Frick Collection
, New York, formerly attributed to Leone Leoni
, was reattributed to Brandani by John Pope-Hennessy. Galli also served Guidobaldo della Rovere, as tutor to his son and as his ambassador at Rome and Venice. The bust, identified as Galli by a later inscription on the base, is the only bronze casting attributed to this sculptor, and the only portrait.
Brandani was virtually forgotten until he was brought into focus as the premier sixteenth-century sculptor in Marche
by Luigi Serra in the 1920s.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
sculptor and stuccoist who worked in an urbane Mannerist style
Mannerism
Mannerism is a period of European art that emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. It lasted until about 1580 in Italy, when a more Baroque style began to replace it, but Northern Mannerism continued into the early 17th century throughout much of Europe...
as a court artist of Guidobaldo II della Rovere
Guidobaldo II della Rovere
Guidobaldo II della Rovere was an Italian condottiero, who was Duke of Urbino from 1538 until his death.- Biography :...
, Duke of Urbino
Urbino
Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482...
.
Born in Urbino
Urbino
Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482...
, Brandani was apprenticed there to Giovanni Maria di Casteldurante, a maiolica
Maiolica
Maiolica is Italian tin-glazed pottery dating from the Renaissance. It is decorated in bright colours on a white background, frequently depicting historical and legendary scenes.-Name:...
artist, between 1538 and 1541.
There are stucco wall and ceiling decorations by Brandani in the Palazzo Ducale, Urbino
Palazzo Ducale, Urbino
The Ducal Palace is a Renaissance building in the Italian city of Urbino in the Marche. One of the most important monuments in Italy, it is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:...
. His masterpiece is considered to be his presepio, a nativity scene with life-size stucco figures, which is in the Oratory of the Church of San Giuseppe, Urbino.
For Guidobaldo's wedding with Vittoria Farnese in 1548 Brandani was one of the team that embellished the Palazzo Ducale in Pesaro
Pesaro
Pesaro is a town and comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. According to the 2007 census, its population was 92,206....
, where he collaborated with Taddeo Zuccari
Taddeo Zuccari
Taddeo Zuccari was an Italian painter, one of the most popular members of the Roman mannerist school.-Biography:...
and Ludovico Carracci
Ludovico Carracci
Ludovico Carracci was an Italian, early-Baroque painter, etcher, and printmaker born in Bologna....
. In 1551-53 he worked for Pope Julius III
Pope Julius III
Pope Julius III , born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, was Pope from 7 February 1550 to 1555....
at Villa Giulia
Villa Giulia
The Villa Giulia is a villa in Rome, Italy. It was built by Pope Julius III in 1550–1555 on what was then the edge of the city. Today it is publicly owned, and houses the Museo Nazionale Etrusco, an impressive collection of Etruscan art and artifacts....
, Rome, "if, as seems probable, Brandani is the 'Federigo d'Urbino stuccatore' to whom payments are recorded for work 'alle fontane' of the Villa Giulia between September 1552 and June 1553".
From the mid-1550s, Brandani worked on stucco ceilings and other decorations in the Palazzo Tirrani-Castracane in Cagli
Cagli
Cagli is a town and comune in the province of Pesaro e Urbino, Marche, central Italy. It c. 30 km south of Urbino.-History:Cagli occupies the site of an ancient village on the Via Flaminia, which seems to have borne the name Cale, 24 miles north of Helvillum and 18 miles southwest of Forum...
for Felice Tiranni. He completed that work in about 1571, when he executed Vulcan's Forge over the fireplace in the Salone. He contributed five high-relief panels to a vaulted ceiling in Palazzo Corboli, Urbino, adapting designs by Taddeo Zuccari, who was working at Villa Giulia when Brandani was there. He also worked on Palazzetto Baviera in Senigallia
Senigallia
Senigallia is a comune and port town on Italy's Adriatic coast, 25 km by rail north of Ancona, in the Marche region, province of Ancona....
(1560); and Palazzo Rocca in Fabriano
Fabriano
Fabriano is a town and comune of Ancona province in the Italian region of the Marche, at 325 m above sea-level. It lies in the Esino valley 44 km upstream and SW of Jesi; and 15 km ENE of Fossato di Vico and 36 km east of Gubbio...
. Towards the end of his life he executed stucco decorations in the Castello Brancaleoni, Piobbico
Piobbico
Piobbico is a comune in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in the Italian region Marche, located about 80 km west of Ancona and about 50 km southwest of Pesaro....
, for Antonio II di Monaldo (d.1598) and in the Urbino chapel at the Basilica of the Holy House, Loreto
Loreto (AN)
Loreto is a hilltown and comune of the Italian province of Ancona, in the Marche. It is mostly famous as the seat of the Basilica della Santa Casa, a popular Catholic pilgrimage site.-Location:...
, commissioned by Guidobaldo in 1571-72. Another late work is the bas-relief of the Martyrdom of Saint Catherine in the Church of Santa Catarina, Urbino.
A bronze bust of the courtier poet and diplomat Antonio Galli (1510–61) at the Frick Collection
Frick Collection
The Frick Collection is an art museum located in Manhattan, New York City, United States.- History :It is housed in the former Henry Clay Frick House, which was designed by Thomas Hastings and constructed in 1913-1914. John Russell Pope altered and enlarged the building in the early 1930s to adapt...
, New York, formerly attributed to Leone Leoni
Leone Leoni
Leone Leoni was an Italian sculptor of international outlook who travelled in Italy, Germany, Austria, France, the Spanish Netherlands and Spain. Leoni is regarded as the finest of the Cinquecento medallists. He made his reputation in commissions he received from the Habsburg monarchs Charles V,...
, was reattributed to Brandani by John Pope-Hennessy. Galli also served Guidobaldo della Rovere, as tutor to his son and as his ambassador at Rome and Venice. The bust, identified as Galli by a later inscription on the base, is the only bronze casting attributed to this sculptor, and the only portrait.
Brandani was virtually forgotten until he was brought into focus as the premier sixteenth-century sculptor in Marche
Marche
The population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
by Luigi Serra in the 1920s.