Natale Schiavoni (1777-1858) La Bellazza

La Bellazza Oil on canvas signed and dated "N schiavoni 1842" Dimensions: L: 59 cm x H: 71 cm sc W: 74.5 cm x H: 87 cm Ac Natale Schiavoni first learned at the Venice Academy as pupil of Francesco Maggiotto and then in Florence with Raffaelo Morghen. He had a preference for portraits and he went to Trieste where he developed the production of highly demanded miniature portraits. Thereafter he went to Milan until 1815. Francis I of Austria called him to the court of Vienna where he made numerous orders for portraits in miniature and canvases of female subjects and odalisques of Renaissance inspiration, which earned him the nickname of Pittore delle grazie ("The painter of graces") by his contemporaries. In 1821, he settled permanently in Chioggia where he dedicated himself to the study of painting while continuing to travel in Austria and Germany. In 1840 he was appointed professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice and bought the Palazzo Giustiniani.