Clovio, G

Name: Giulio Clovio

Nickname/Alias: Macedo

Achievements: Great miniaturist painter

Born: 1498; Grizane, Croatia (then,  part of Hungary)

Died: January 5, 1578; Rome, Italy (Aged 80)

Field & Discipline: Art; Religion; Painter; Priest

Language: Italian

Father: Unknown

Mother: Unknown

Siblings: Unknown

Spouse: None

Children: None

Education:  Unknown

Major Works:

Missal for Cardinal Farnese

Book of Offices of the Virgin

Life & Times:

Nothing is known of Clovio's early years in Hungary, but records show that at the age 18 he was in Rome working for the family of Cardinal Grimani. Cardinal Grimani was a patron of the arts and had one of the best libraries in Europe.

While in Grimani's service, from 1518-1520, Clovio made drawings from medals, the quality of which astounded friends, particularly artist [a pal of] Romano*, who advised  Clovio to take up miniature painting as a profession. Romano, who had assisted Raphael on the decorations of the Papal Palace, showed Clovio how to mix colors and how to use gum-water as a medium for water colors.  Clovio's first miniature painting was from an engraving by German artist [copied] Durer*.

His reputation soon spread beyond Italy and in 1524, when he 26, he was invited to the court of King Louis II of Hungary to add to the magnificent decorations and illuminations in the Palace Library.    In 1526, the capital, Buda was captured by the Turks, Louis was killed, and Clovio and some other copyists and illuminators barely escaped.

Clovio returned to Rome, working sometimes for Cardinal Campeggio, but spending most of his time copying the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, which had been completed by [copied] Michelangelo* only 14 years before.

In 1527, Rome was sacked by the Germans and Spanish.  Clovio was captured and beaten.  He vowed that if he survived he would devote himself to God. After a long imprisonment, he was taken to the monastery of St. Ruffino near Mantua, where he became member of the Scopetine order of monks and took the name Brother Giulio. He created choir books for the monastery and painted "Christ appearing to the Magdalene in the Garden."

In 1531, he went to the monastery at Candiana near Padua and studied miniature painting

under the miniaturist Girolamo dai Libri, who was illustrating the monastery's choir books. In the same year, Cardinal Grimani, then the papal legate in Perugia, obtained a papal dispensation for Clovio allowing him to go to Perugia to illustrate the Cardinal's copy of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

In 1535, Clovio illustrated a poem on the recent capture of Tunis by [illustrated victory by] Charles V*.    In 1540, Grimani reluctantly permitted Clovio to enter the employ of the 20-year-old Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, in Rome.  Farnese, a keen patron of the arts, had long wanted Clovio in his household.  In 1542, Clovio produced a Latin psalm book for Pope Paul III, the grandfather of Alessandro Farnese, in which can be seen the influence of [influenced by] Raphael* and Michelangelo.

He also created miniatures for the Cardinal of Trent and in 1546 illuminated a Latin missal for Cardinal Farnese.  Two years later, Clovio completed a Madonna and a Pieta for the Cardinal to give to his grandfather.

In 1550, Clovio painted a Madonna for the new Pope, Julius III, in which the Pope is seen kneeling at her feet.  In 1553, [hired by] Cosimo de' Medici*, Grand Duke of Tuscany, hired Clovio to work for him.  By now, Clovio's reputation was such that he was being offered more commissions than he could handle.  Travelers would beg for audiences with him.  One visitor was [collaborated with]  Pieter Brueghel the Elder*, with whom Clovio may have collaborated.

On his return to Rome from Florence, Clovio painted a series of miniatures for [commissioned by] Philip II* of Spain.

In Venice, in 1570, Clovio wrote Cardinal Farnese to recommend [painted by] El Greco*  as an artist for the Farnese household.  In possible appreciation, El Greco

painted Clovio's portrait.

In 1572,  King Philip II of Spain again sought to hire Clovio, asking him to work on a set of service books for his monastery at Escorial but Clovio had to refuse because he was too old and unwell.

Assessment: Clovio was the most famous miniaturist of his time and his

services were eagerly sought.

Oneliner: Giulio Clovio, famous Renaissance miniaturist

Bibliography:

• Bradley, John W.,  The Life and Works of Giorgio Giulio Clovio, Bernard Quaritch, London, 1891.