Self portrait like Apollo (1618/1620) by Giovanna GarzoniQuirinale Palace
Among the treasures of the artistic heritage of the Presidency of the Republic, there is the painting "Self-Portrait as Apollo", painted by the seventeenth-century miniaturist Giovanna Garzoni.
The painting is a tempera on parchment and dates between 1618 and 1620, in which the artist portrays herself in the guise of Apollo.
Self portrait like Apollo (1618/1620) by Giovanna GarzoniQuirinale Palace
The choice to represent herself as the Greek god, protector of music and poetry, perhaps derives from the author's talent for music, known for also being an excellent player of string instruments.
The work, painted on parchment, amazes for the refinement of the pictorial technique developed by the young artist, which consists of the juxtaposition of very small brush strokes.
Notice the carefully rendered laurel leaves. They highlight Garzoni's keen observation of the natural world and her skill as a miniaturist.
and those of the tiny hairs, whose ends stand out against the background.
Signature detail, Self portrait like Apollo (1618/1620) by Giovanna GarzoniQuirinale Palace
The finesse of the painter's hand, due to her dedication to the art of calligraphy, is also revealed in the signature, placed on the musical instrument, where the wording is clearly visible: Giovanna Garzoni F[ecit]”.
Giovanna Garzoni
Multifaceted and cosmopolitan, Giovanna Garzoni was born in Ascoli Piceno around 1600, becoming a prominent figure in the arts of the 17th century.
Linked to Artemisia Gentileschi, the painter worked in the main European and Italian courts, including Paris, London, Venice and Rome.
View of the exhibit "Roma pittrice. Artiste al lavoro tra XIV e XIX" (2024)Quirinale Palace
On loan to Palazzo Braschi
Because of this bond with the Italian capital city, the painter is among the protagonists of the exhibition “Roma pittrice. Artists at Work between the 14th and 19th Centuries", at the Museo di Roma in Palazzo Braschi, where "Self-Portrait as Apollo" is on loan until March 23, 2025.
Self portrait like Apollo (1618/1620) by Giovanna GarzoniQuirinale Palace
Before leaving the Quirinale for Palazzo Braschi, the painting underwent careful maintenance at the Restoration Laboratories of the Presidency of the Republic.
Images of the "Self portrait like Apollo" restoration work (1618/1620) by Giovanna GarzoniQuirinale Palace
The intervention made it possible to consolidate the fragile pictorial surface of the painting, mimetically reintegrating some paint losses.
Quirinale PalaceQuirinale Palace
The operation is part of the path implemented by the Presidency of the Republic to conserve, protect and enhance the artistic heritage of its endowment and allow citizens to enjoy it.
Photo of the exhibition “Roma Pittrice. Female Artists at Work between the 14th and 19th Century": Alfredo Valeriani - Capitoline Superintendence of Cultural Heritage
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.