Antonio Gionima
Maker
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Medium
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Materials
Techniques
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Signature / Inscription / Marks
A letter by the artist on the recto:
"Al Molt. Ill[ust]re Sig[no]r P[ad]ron[e] Os[servandissi]mo
Il Sig[nor] …. ….. M…..i
I….la ? (Imola?)
Caris[si]mo Amico,
Non mi avendo permesso i miei affari [.]l tempo per fare
Il presente disegno percio’ non ho potuto servirvi, che
D’un semplice schizzo, che servira’ per il pensiere, regolan-
Dovi nel dipingerlo, col vedere ciascheduna cosa dal
Vero, particolarmente, le Teste mani e piedi, esendo
Questo esenziale per divenire buon pitore, come e esen-
Ziale il respirare per vivere, e lasciate pure dire a li
Pitori manierati, che vagli esere la mente che operi
Pretendendo essi corregere il naturale, quando non lo
Voliano osservare e non lo sano imitare come egli e’. Ma se la virtu’ della
Pitura consiste nella immitatione della natura per
Conseguenza, chi piu’ l’oservera’ et imitera’, divera’
Certamente miglior Pitore, chi meno l’immitera’
Divera’ pegiore. Acetate (?) per non m’inoltrar d’avantagio
Si il disegno come il sopradeto, essendo non men l’uno
Che l’altro, effeti del zello che o’ di giovarvi, e resto
Di voi
Aff[e]t[ionatissi]mo Amico di Cuore
Antonio Gionima
Bologna 23 Maggio 1731"
Translation of letter by Jamie Gabbarelli
“To the very illustrious and most respected master
Signor Giovanni Morini
Imola
My dearest friend,
Since my affairs have not afforded me the time to make the present drawing, I have only been able to serve you with a simple sketch, which shall serve as a first thought. But take heed while you are painting it to observe everything from life, in particular, the heads, hands, and feet - this being as essential to becoming a good painter as breathing is to living. And let the mannered painters claim that it is the mind that creates, presuming as they do to correct nature, when in fact they do not want to observe it and are not able to imitate it just as it is. But if the virtue of painting lies in the imitation of nature, accordingly he who most observes and imitates it shall certainly become a better painter, while he who departs from its imitation shall be a worse one. Accept, lest I go on further, both the drawing and my advice, since they both are the result of the desire I have to benefit you, and I remain
your most affectionate and heartfelt friend,
Antonio Gionima
Bologna 23 May 1731”
Credit
Anonymous gift
Object Number
Madonna and Child with Saint Joseph in the Carpenter Shop
A letter by the artist on the recto:
"Al Molt. Ill[ust]re Sig[no]r P[ad]ron[e] Os[servandissi]mo
Il Sig[nor] …. ….. M…..i
I….la ? (Imola?)
Caris[si]mo Amico,
Non mi avendo permesso i miei affari [.]l tempo per fare
Il presente disegno percio’ non ho potuto servirvi, che
D’un semplice schizzo, che servira’ per il pensiere, regolan-
Dovi nel dipingerlo, col vedere ciascheduna cosa dal
Vero, particolarmente, le Teste mani e piedi, esendo
Questo esenziale per divenire buon pitore, come e esen-
Ziale il respirare per vivere, e lasciate pure dire a li
Pitori manierati, che vagli esere la mente che operi
Pretendendo essi corregere il naturale, quando non lo
Voliano osservare e non lo sano imitare come egli e’. Ma se la virtu’ della
Pitura consiste nella immitatione della natura per
Conseguenza, chi piu’ l’oservera’ et imitera’, divera’
Certamente miglior Pitore, chi meno l’immitera’
Divera’ pegiore. Acetate (?) per non m’inoltrar d’avantagio
Si il disegno come il sopradeto, essendo non men l’uno
Che l’altro, effeti del zello che o’ di giovarvi, e resto
Di voi
Aff[e]t[ionatissi]mo Amico di Cuore
Antonio Gionima
Bologna 23 Maggio 1731"
Translation of letter by Jamie Gabbarelli
“To the very illustrious and most respected master
Signor Giovanni Morini
Imola
My dearest friend,
Since my affairs have not afforded me the time to make the present drawing, I have only been able to serve you with a simple sketch, which shall serve as a first thought. But take heed while you are painting it to observe everything from life, in particular, the heads, hands, and feet - this being as essential to becoming a good painter as breathing is to living. And let the mannered painters claim that it is the mind that creates, presuming as they do to correct nature, when in fact they do not want to observe it and are not able to imitate it just as it is. But if the virtue of painting lies in the imitation of nature, accordingly he who most observes and imitates it shall certainly become a better painter, while he who departs from its imitation shall be a worse one. Accept, lest I go on further, both the drawing and my advice, since they both are the result of the desire I have to benefit you, and I remain
your most affectionate and heartfelt friend,
Antonio Gionima
Bologna 23 May 1731”