Hieronimo Miani
Encyclopedia
Hieronimo Miani, also known as Hieronymus Miani, was an Italian history painter
, who worked in Denmark
as both a painter to the royal court of King Christian VI
, and as a teacher.
He was born in Venice
, Italy
, and was in the service of Karl Philip Emanuel of Pfalz
in Mannheim
, Germany
before being called to Denmark in 1739 to work for the royal court of King Christian VI.
One of the court’s biggest projects at the time was the building and decoration of Christiansborg Palace
in Copenhagen
1733-1745, for which Miani painted a large plafond
or ceiling decoration with religious theme. The work was entitled "Uretfærdighedens og lasternes flugt for den retfærdige Guds åsyn" ("The Flight of Injustice and Vices at the Sight of the Just God"), and was painted 1739-1740. An oil painting of the same theme is in the collection of the Danish National Gallery (Statens Museum for Kunst)
.
He also painted two large figure paintings from the story of Moses
, as well as a painting of then Crown Prince Frederik V
on horseback. These were all lost in the Christiansborg fire of 1794. An engraving based on the portrait of Frederik V still exists.
In 1740 he and French sculptor, Louis August le Clerc
, took over the leadership of the newly formed Christian VI’s Art Academy, The Drawing and Painting Academy (Tegne- og maleriakademiet), which had been left without a leader when Hendrick Krock
died in 1738, This academy would eventually become the Royal Danish Academy of Art
(Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) in the mid-1750s.
Miani and le Clerc were both named professors at the Academy, while painter Marcus Cardes and medallionist Georg Wahl
were freehand drawing teachers (informatorer).
On 1 February 1740 the Academy opened its doors to all interested students, not only artists, but also art lovers and such professionals and handworkers for whom drawing could be an asset. A Royal Resolution of 24 August 1740 provided a measly subsidy of 500 Rdl from the King’s discretionary funds, and conditions at the school were miserable.
For some period of time starting in 1744 the model school, which had only 10-16 students, took place at the Widow Lyders's house on Gammelstrand where Miani was lodging.
Among Miani's students were Johannes Wiedewelt
and Peder Cramer.
Miani left Denmark in 1745-1746 with a royal gift (severance pay), and returned to Italy. le Clerc continued alone in the role of Academy director after Miani's departure, and until architect Nicolai Eigtved
took full control over the Academy.
History painting
History painting is a genre in painting defined by subject matter rather than an artistic style, depicting a moment in a narrative story, rather than a static subject such as a portrait...
, who worked in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
as both a painter to the royal court of King Christian VI
Christian VI of Denmark
Christian VI was King of Denmark and Norway from 1730 to 1746.He was the son of King Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. He married Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and fathered Frederick V.-The reign and personality of Christian VI:To posterity Christian...
, and as a teacher.
He was born in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Italy
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...
, and was in the service of Karl Philip Emanuel of Pfalz
Karl III Philip, Elector Palatine
Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine was a ruler from the house of Wittelsbach. He was Elector Palatine, Count of Palatinate-Neuburg, and Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1716 to 1742...
in Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
before being called to Denmark in 1739 to work for the royal court of King Christian VI.
One of the court’s biggest projects at the time was the building and decoration of Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
1733-1745, for which Miani painted a large plafond
Plafond
Plafond , in a broad sense, is any ceiling of any premise.Plafond can be product of monumental and decorative painting and sculpture; subject or ornamental – also is designated by the term "Plafond"...
or ceiling decoration with religious theme. The work was entitled "Uretfærdighedens og lasternes flugt for den retfærdige Guds åsyn" ("The Flight of Injustice and Vices at the Sight of the Just God"), and was painted 1739-1740. An oil painting of the same theme is in the collection of the Danish National Gallery (Statens Museum for Kunst)
Statens Museum for Kunst
Statens Museum for Kunst is the Danish national gallery located in Copenhagen....
.
He also painted two large figure paintings from the story of Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
, as well as a painting of then Crown Prince Frederik V
Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746, son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.-Early life:...
on horseback. These were all lost in the Christiansborg fire of 1794. An engraving based on the portrait of Frederik V still exists.
In 1740 he and French sculptor, Louis August le Clerc
Louis August le Clerc
Louis August le Clerc , also known as Louis-Augustin le Clerc, was a French-born sculptor working in Denmark. He was born in Metz, France to copperplate engraver Sebastian le Clerc and his wife Charlotte van den Kerckhove...
, took over the leadership of the newly formed Christian VI’s Art Academy, The Drawing and Painting Academy (Tegne- og maleriakademiet), which had been left without a leader when Hendrick Krock
Hendrick Krock
Hendrick Krock was a Danish history painter who, from 1706, was the court painter of Frederick IV as well as his successor Christian VI. Along with Benoit Le Coffre set the tone for history painting in Denmark during the 18th century-1720s, having been influenced by the Italian baroque painting he...
died in 1738, This academy would eventually become the Royal Danish Academy of Art
Royal Danish Academy of Art
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts has provided a practice-oriented complement to the scholarly investigation of the arts carried out at Danish universities for more than 250 years, playing a crucial part in the development of the distinctive tradition of the art of Denmark.- History :The Royal...
(Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) in the mid-1750s.
Miani and le Clerc were both named professors at the Academy, while painter Marcus Cardes and medallionist Georg Wahl
Georg Wahl
Georg Wahl was Chief Rider at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and is a dressage instructor, rider and trainer. He is also known as the coach and trainer of Swiss Olympic medalist Christine Stückelberger....
were freehand drawing teachers (informatorer).
On 1 February 1740 the Academy opened its doors to all interested students, not only artists, but also art lovers and such professionals and handworkers for whom drawing could be an asset. A Royal Resolution of 24 August 1740 provided a measly subsidy of 500 Rdl from the King’s discretionary funds, and conditions at the school were miserable.
For some period of time starting in 1744 the model school, which had only 10-16 students, took place at the Widow Lyders's house on Gammelstrand where Miani was lodging.
Among Miani's students were Johannes Wiedewelt
Johannes Wiedewelt
Johannes Wiedewelt , Danish neoclassical sculptor, was born in Copenhagen to royal sculptor to the Danish Court, Just Wiedewelt, and his wife Birgitte Lauridsdatter...
and Peder Cramer.
Miani left Denmark in 1745-1746 with a royal gift (severance pay), and returned to Italy. le Clerc continued alone in the role of Academy director after Miani's departure, and until architect Nicolai Eigtved
Nicolai Eigtved
Nicolai Eigtved, also known as Niels Eigtved, , Danish architect, introduced and was the leading proponent of the French rococo style in Danish architecture during the 1730s-1740s. He designed and built some of the most prominent buildings of his time, a number of which still stand to this day...
took full control over the Academy.