Attilio Simonetti

Attilio Simonetti (1843–1925) was an Italian painter and Antiquarian.

Pompeian Actress
Attilio Simonetti
Self-portrait
Born13 April 1843
Rome
Died14 January 1925
Rome

Biography

He was born and resided mainly in Rome: a son of Francesco, a Roman jeweler and engraver, and Carolina née Raffaeli, from a family of mosaicists. He showed a talent for art at an early age, which brought him to the attention of a family friend, the painter Marià Fortuny.[1] At the age of sixteen, he began his formal studies.

In 1868, Simoneti submitted two paintings to an exhibition at the Brera of Milan: Interior of Kitchen at Trastevere and Gate at via dei Carbonari. At the 1877 Neapolitan Esposizione Nazionale di Belle Arti, he displayed a copy of the paintings "L'araldo" and "Il tamburino", which were purchased by the soon-to-be King, Umberto I. While in Naples, he made friends with and was encouraged by Filippo Palizzi, who invited him to exhibit in Campania.

In 1875, he was one of the founders of the Associazione degli Acquarellisti romani (Association of Watercolorists), of which he was an active member until 1883. He also served as executor for the sale of antiquarian objects collected by his old friend, Fortuny, who had died in 1874. This would encourage him to establish his own antiques business.

Among his works: After the Dance; exhibited in 1877 in Naples: Un araldo; Un tamburo; Ogni speranza è morta; Via Giuseppe Mancinelli in Palazzuolo Castracelo. He also exhibited at the 1883 Mostra of Fine Arts in Rome: some paintings and watercolors, including A governor; Gioia materna; and La filatrice.[2] He also had a good relationship with Adolphe Goupil of the Goupil Gallery of Paris, famed for his patronage of impressionism.[3][4]

In 1904, he purchased the Palazzo Chigi-Odescalchi, which became his studio and headquarters for his business. His clients included John Pierpont Morgan and William Waldorf Astor, who hired him to design and furnish his "Villa Pompeiana" in Sorrento; inspired by the House of the Vettii in Pompeii.

He died in Rome. The Simonetti family continued the antiquarian business.[5][6]

References
  1. I primi anni di Roma capitale (1870-1878): con 100 illustrazioni By Ugo Pesci, page 421.
  2. Dizionario degli Artisti Italiani Viventi: pittori, scultori, e Architetti., by Angelo de Gubernatis. Tipe dei Successori Le Monnier, 1889, page 481.
  3. Attilio Simonetti, pittore e antiquario romano e via Margutta., article by Giovanni Carboni in text: Atelier in Margutta, Cinque secoli di cultura internazionale a Roma; Allemandi, publisher; Valentina Moncada, editor.
  4. Attilio Simonetti e la Maison Goupil in the catalog of the exhibition La Maison Goupil Il successo italiano a Parigi negli anni dell’impressionismo; Silvana Editoriale, publisher; Paolo Serafini, editor 2013.
  5. Article Attilio Simonetti in Enciclopedia di Roma dalle origini all’anno 2000; F. M. Ricci, publisher, Milan.
  6. Goffi Carboni Antiquariato on Via Margutta, Rome.

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