Francesco Lorenzi Biography
Francesco Lorenzi was born in 1723. An artist who dedicated himself above all to drawing.
Initially, in Francesco Lorenzi's works we note the importance of his stay in Rome, both for his classical orientation and for the versatility of his production. In 1745, however, Lorenzo moved to Venice and joined the workshop of Giambattista Tiepolo. A few years earlier, in fact, Tiepolo had worked for prestigious clients in Verona. The first known work by Francesco Lorenzi is the one sent from Venice to Valpolicella, depicting the chair of Saint Peter for the church of San Pietro in Cariano. After his Venetian apprenticeship, Francesco Lorenzi returned to Verona, where he opened his workshop and dedicated himself to the production of works that recalled the great Veronese tradition of Paolo Veronese and Paolo Farinati. His works from this period are characterized by their backgrounds of aerial Veronese loggias animated by the presence of elegant figures. In this phase, Lorenzi created both sacred and profane works. The works of Francesco Lorenzi were praised in particular by Spolverini, who exhibited them in his collection alongside works by other illustrious painters, including Tiepolo. Francesco Lorenzi was also skilled in drawing and book illustration. His portraiture activity is also remembered. He created many portraits of ladies and gentlemen and caprices. The confirmation of his ability is sealed by his self-portrait in the Uffizi Gallery. In the 1860s, Francesco Lorenzi received the most important commissions. In fact, he frescoed the Ferrari Verità Poetà palace and the palace of the Giusti del Giardino counts. In the following years, Lorenzi successfully carried out many other commissions in the Vicenza area. The greatest celebration of Francesco Lorenzi's talent was his appointment as director of the Verona Academy of Painting. Recently, Stefano L'Occaso reported an unpublished work by Francesco Lorenzi in the rectory of the sanctuary of San Luigi Gonzaga in Castiglione delle Stiviere (Mn). He died in Verona in 1787 at the age of 64.
