Giovanni Paolo Pannini 1691-1765
Giovanni was born in Piacenza.Italy. He was trained as a stage designer but became
famous in Rome as the leading painter of real and imaginary views of the city.
He was the first artist to devote his painting to the study of ruins.
He also created paintings of festivities and historical events and taught perspective
at the Academie de France in Rome.
His decision to concentrate on ruins and imaginary views took hold after his move
to Rome in 1717. He often created paintings documenting Rome's public celebrations
and festivities, as well as happenings of historical significance.
Supremely skilled at portraying architectural detail, Giovanni demonstrates his excellence
in draftsmanship in the Gallery of the Views of Ancient Rome, painted in 1758. Incredibly
descriptive, the painting brings to life the historicaland famous monuments of Rome,
including the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Column of Trajan , various triumphal arches
dedicated to rulers of Rome, and other significant ruins of antiquity.
His paintings were very desirable amongst French aristocracy and established a foothold
for him in the French Academy in Rome.
Tourists competed for his paintings of the vogue sites in the city and many galleries made
a point of obtaining his extremely popular works.
He exercised a powerful influence upon a number of French painters in Rome.
His importance lies in the fact that as a teacher at the prestigious art academy in Rome,
(The Academie de France)
He taught a generation of French and Italian painters how to combine elements of
the heritage of the Italian renaissance with the innovations of recent French painting.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Giovanni Paolo Pannini
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Picture Gallery With Views Of Modern Rome
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Place et l'Eglise de Santa-Maria Maggiore 1744