Paolo Domenico Finoglia
Encyclopedia
Paolo Domenico Finoglia, or Finoglio, (c. 1590 - 1645) was an Italian
painter of the early-Baroque
period, active mainly in South Italy, including Naples
and towns in Apulia
.
Finoglia was born in Orta d'Atella, near Naples, but sometimes signed his work Neapolitanus. He likely apprenticed with Ippolito Borghese
, but derived from Battistello Caracciolo
a tenebrist style, similar to that of Caravaggio
.
In 1610-1616, he completed a series of works in Lecce
, including altarpieces and episodes from Life of Abraham during his stay in Lecce
, and which now decorate the presbitery of the Church of San Giovanni d'Aymo.
He painted extensively in 1620-1626 in the Certosa di San Martino
in Naples. He painted a Baptism of St Celsus (c. 1635) for the Pozzuoli
Cathedral. He painted a number of Immaculate Conceptions, including versions in San Lorenzo Maggiore
of Naples; in the Annunziata of Airola
; in the church of San Francesco in Montesarchio
,;and in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lille
, as well as a Virgin with saints Margaret, Bernard & Anthony of Padua (1634) for the church of Santi Bernardo e Margherita Fonseca in Naples, and an Annunciation and Bride of the seven canticles for the Annunziata at Airola
.
One of Finoglia's masterpieces is the decorative series of ten large canvases on episodes of Ariosto's epic Gerusalemme Liberata.The series was commissioned for the family castle starting in 1634 by the count of Conversano, Giangirolamo II Acquaviva d'Aragona. Finoglia first started working for the Count in 1622, when he decorated the bedroom ceilings with scenes from the story of Jacob and Rachel. He later decorated the church of Santi Cosma e Damiano in Conversano
. The decoration of Tasso's work began in 1640, and continued until Finoglia's death in Conversano in 1645. The large canvases include representations of:
The paintings had come into private hands, and were re-acquired by the town and rehung in their original places in the Castello.
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...
painter of the early-Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
period, active mainly in South Italy, including Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and towns in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
.
Finoglia was born in Orta d'Atella, near Naples, but sometimes signed his work Neapolitanus. He likely apprenticed with Ippolito Borghese
Ippolito Borghese
Ippolito Borghese was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance, born in Sigillo in the late 16th century....
, but derived from Battistello Caracciolo
Battistello Caracciolo
Giovanni Battista Caracciolo was an Italian artist and important Neapolitan follower of Caravaggio....
a tenebrist style, similar to that of Caravaggio
Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily between 1593 and 1610. His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, had a formative influence on the Baroque...
.
In 1610-1616, he completed a series of works in Lecce
Lecce
Lecce is a historic city of 95,200 inhabitants in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Puglia...
, including altarpieces and episodes from Life of Abraham during his stay in Lecce
Lecce
Lecce is a historic city of 95,200 inhabitants in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Puglia...
, and which now decorate the presbitery of the Church of San Giovanni d'Aymo.
He painted extensively in 1620-1626 in the Certosa di San Martino
Certosa di San Martino
The Certosa di San Martino is a former monastery complex, now a museum, in Naples, southern Italy. It is the most visible landmark of the city, perched atop the Vomero hill that commands the gulf. A Carthusian monastery, it was finished and inaugurated under the rule of Queen Joan I in 1368. It...
in Naples. He painted a Baptism of St Celsus (c. 1635) for the Pozzuoli
Pozzuoli
Pozzuoli is a city and comune of the province of Naples, in the Italian region of Campania. It is the main city of the Phlegrean peninsula.-History:Pozzuoli began as the Greek colony of Dicaearchia...
Cathedral. He painted a number of Immaculate Conceptions, including versions in San Lorenzo Maggiore
San Lorenzo Maggiore
San Lorenzo Maggiore is a town and comune in the province of Benevento, in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is a member of the Titerno "Local Action Group".-Festivals:...
of Naples; in the Annunziata of Airola
Airola
Airola is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 35 km northeast of Naples and about 20 km southwest of Benevento in the Valle Caudina, facing the Monte Taburno. Nearby is the confluence of the Tesa and Faenza streams into the Isclero River...
; in the church of San Francesco in Montesarchio
Montesarchio
Montesarchio is a comune in the Province of Benevento, Campania, southern Italy. It is located 18 km south-east of Benevento in the Valle Caudina at the foot of Monte Taburno...
,;and in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, as well as a Virgin with saints Margaret, Bernard & Anthony of Padua (1634) for the church of Santi Bernardo e Margherita Fonseca in Naples, and an Annunciation and Bride of the seven canticles for the Annunziata at Airola
Airola
Airola is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 35 km northeast of Naples and about 20 km southwest of Benevento in the Valle Caudina, facing the Monte Taburno. Nearby is the confluence of the Tesa and Faenza streams into the Isclero River...
.
One of Finoglia's masterpieces is the decorative series of ten large canvases on episodes of Ariosto's epic Gerusalemme Liberata.The series was commissioned for the family castle starting in 1634 by the count of Conversano, Giangirolamo II Acquaviva d'Aragona. Finoglia first started working for the Count in 1622, when he decorated the bedroom ceilings with scenes from the story of Jacob and Rachel. He later decorated the church of Santi Cosma e Damiano in Conversano
Conversano
Conversano is an ancient town and comune in the province of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It is located 30 km south-east of Bari, 7 km from the Adriatic coast, at 219 m above sea-level....
. The decoration of Tasso's work began in 1640, and continued until Finoglia's death in Conversano in 1645. The large canvases include representations of:
- The Torture of Olindo and Sofronia
- The encounter of Clorinda and Tancredi
- The duel between Raimondo di Tolosa and Argante
- Baptism and death of Clorinda
- Rinaldo and Armida in the enchanted garden
- Carlo and Ubaldo urge Rinaldo to fulfill his duty
- Armida tries to restrain Rinaldo
- Rinaldo abandons the enchanted Island
- Erminia discovers the wounded Tancredi
- Rinaldo, victorious, puts the enemy into flight
The paintings had come into private hands, and were re-acquired by the town and rehung in their original places in the Castello.