Renaissance Painter Shares His Riches with New York City

Miguel Moreno
By Miguel Moreno
February 20, 2019Arts and Culture
share
Renaissance Painter Shares His Riches with New York City
"The Tailor" by Giovanni Battista Moroni next to shears, taken on Feb. 20, 2019. (Oliver Trey/NTD)

After the Dark Ages, new light was given to Europe, and though many Renaissance artists are now household names, there were some, such as Giovanni Battista Moroni, who did not play a major role then but have now given New York City a window into the traditional and sacred arts.

Moroni’s paintings now cover the walls of The Frick Collection: an art collection settled in what used to be the home of Henry Clay Frick—one of America’s most successful industrialists and art connoisseurs, according to the collection’s about page. The new exhibition, Moroni: The Riches of Renaissance Portraiture, presents the works of a Renaissance painter that have preserved their grandeur and nobility through a traditional technique.

“He’s very, very careful when he applies paint,” said Assistant Curator Aimee Ng. “So he’s not taking a big wad of paint and slapping it onto the canvas, which happens over the centuries as people become more modern, a little bit more expressive.”

Moroni lived from circa 1522 to Feb. 5, 1578, but surprisingly did not play a lead role in the Renaissance. According to the press release, he is believed to have spent most of his career in his hometown—Bergamo, northern Italy, and this may be the reason why he didn’t achieve fame. Close to 125 of his portraits remain, which is many compared to other Renaissance painters.

A Personal Interaction with the Sitter

An exemplary painting of Moroni—and one that he is most well-known for—is “The Tailor,” a rare subject of the Renaissance period. Director of the Palazzo Strozzi, Arturo Galansino, explains why in an interview.

“As you can see, it’s a portrait; but it’s a portrait of somebody working,” said Galansino. “Which in the 1560s, 1570s was quite unique.”

The gaze of the tailor creates a personal experience with the viewer, and this is what Moroni is best known for. It looks like the tailor takes pride in his work.

Moroni is also accredited with the invention of sacred portraits. These portraits were commissioned, depicting the commissioners alongside sacred figures, according to the press release.

It is believed that Moroni’s sacred portraits represent the sitter practicing meditative prayers, called spiritual exercises, popularized by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. It could also be that Moroni was emphasizing the sitters’ religious piety, according to the release.

The Frick Collection

Moroni: Riches of Renaissance Portraiture will be on display from Feb. 21, 2019, to June 2, 2019. This is the first major Moroni exhibition in North America.

ntd newsletter icon
Sign up for NTD Daily
What you need to know, summarized in one email.
Stay informed with accurate news you can trust.
By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Comments