Ligurian FamousnessOn this page you will find many of the more famous sons and daughters of Liguria. You will also find the information to locate the artworks, birthplaces, monuments or museums of these celebrated people. Artists Ludovico Brea (painter) He was born around 1450 in Montalto Ligure in the Argentina Valley. He died in 1522 in Genoa. His works included altars prepared in the Flemish and Lombardian Style. You can find them in Nice and in the villages around Liguria. Artworks: Pietà (1475) in the church of Cimiez, Nice; Winged altar (1516) in San Giovanni Battista e Giorgio, Montalto Ligure; Crocifissione (1481) Palazzo Bianco, Genoa; Ascenzione(1483) Galleria Durazzo Giustiniani, Genoa; La Madonna di Misericordia (1483-84), the winged altar of S. Caterina (1488) and the Baptism of Christi (1495) in the church and the Dominican Convent, Taggia; La Pietà, Cathedral in Monaco; La Maestà, Church of Arcs-Van Luca Cambiaso (painter) 
He was born 18th November 1527 in Moneglia. His artistic abilities came from his father Giovanni, from whom he developed his painting technique. Later he studied and extended the work of Michelangelo. Raffael, Beccafumi, Pordenone, Perin del Vaga, Correggio and Parmigianino. He is one of the most famous painters of 15th century Genoa; many of his works are to be found in Genoa. In 1583 Philipp II invited him to Spain to finish the mural of the Escorial (which was began in Castello). Unfortunately he died before completion, on 6th September 1585 in San Lorenzo of El Escorial. Works: Frescos in the Palazzo Doria (1547-48), Genoa; Palazzo Imperiale (Piazza Campetto, 1560), Genoa; Cappella Lercari, (1562) Dome, Genoa; Diana e Atteone, Palazzo Bianco, Genoa; Altar picture of S. Benedetto (1562), Dome, Genoa; Christo davanti Caifa e Madonna della candela, Palazzo Bianco, Genoa; The Resurrection (1547) SS. Giacomo e Filippo, Taggia; The Adoration of the Magi, Galleria Sabaudo, Turin Domenico Piola (painter and engraver) 
He was born 1627 in Genoa and worked as a painter and engraver. The works of del Grechetto and Rubens influenced his work. He died 1703 in Genoa. Works: Frescos, S. Marta and S. Giacomo della Marina, Genoa; Allegory of Autumn and Winter, Palazzo Rosso, Genoa; Frescos Chiesa dell'Annunziata, S. Siro (Chapel S. Gaetano) and S. Luca, Genoa Bernardo Castello (painter) He was born 1557 in Albaro/Genoa. You will find many of his works in Genoa. He was a student of Semino and Cambiaso. He died in 1629 in Genoa. Works: The Holy Family, Galleria Nazionae e Accademia Lingustica, Genoa; The Rape of the Sabine Women, Palazzo Rosso, Genoa Alessandro Magnasco (painter)) 1667 he was born in Genoa. He lived for many years in Milan, where he studied the works of Cerano, Crespi and Procaccini. From 1703-1711 he worked at the Court of the Earl Gian Gastoe de Medici in Florence. Since 1711 he lived and worked again in Northern Italy, where he started drawings of the monks and their everyday life. In 1735 he turned back to Genoa, where he painted many religious topics, landscapes and scenes of aristocratic life. Works: S. Antonio preaches the fishermen, Private Collection, Genoa; Ricevimento in una casa patrizia, Palazzo Bianco, Genoa Angiola Veronica Airola (paintress) She lived from 1590-1670 during the Baroque period and worked mainly in Genoa. She was one of a small minority women painters and a student of Domenico Fiasella. Some years later she became a nun in San Bartolomeo dell'Olivello. In her paintings, religious themes were the the main focus. Works: Frescos in the Dome Annunziata, Genoa Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo (painter) He was born in 1584 in Voltri/Genoa, the son of a salesman. A student of Orazio Cambiaso, he worked together with Bernardo Strozzi. Later he taughted Giuseppe Badaracco and Bartolomeo Bassi. His work was much influenced by the Flemish artists such as Rubens and van Dyck, as well as Crespi, Proccacini and il Morazzone. He died 18th August 1638 in Genoa. Works: Frescos at the cupola of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato (1635-38), Genoa; Exposition in the Accademia Linguistica, Genoa Guilio Benso (painter) He was born on 30th November 1592 in Pieve di Teco and was one of the earlier Baroque painters to extend the style of Luca Cambiaso. He began as a student of Giovanni Carl Doria and, a short time later, met Procaccini. Afterwards he studied at the Accademia del Nudo in Genoa and started an apprenticeship under Giovanni Battista Paggi. He died in 1668. Works: Palazzo Grimaldi, Cagnes-sur-Mer; Frescos in the apse of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato, Genoa; Sant'Ambrogio, Alassio Bernardo Strozzi (painter) 
He was born 1581 in Genoa and became famous under the name il Prete Genovese (the priest of Genoa) and il Cappucchino. He lived as an Capuchin monk. His basic works were portraits, influenced by Flemish artists such as Aersten, Rubens and van Dyck. He died 2nd August 1644 in Venice. Works: Il Paradiso, Accademia Lingustica di Belli Arti, Genoa; 5 paintings in the Palazzo Bianco, Genoa; 7 paintings amongst other „The cook“ in the Palazzo Rosso, Genoa Giovanni Bernardo Carbone (painter) He was born in 1616 in Sant Martino d'Albaro and was considered as the sucessor to van Dyck in portrait painting. He painted especially religious and historical themes. In 1683 he died in Genoa. Works: The Holy Louis adores the Crux (1662), SS. Annunziata, Genoa; Mary with the child and 6 Saints (1647), San Teodoro, Genoa; Mary with the child and the Saint Anthony of Padua (1665), Parish Church, Celle Ligure Filippo Parodi (sculptor) He was born 1630, the son of a sculptor. In his early years he worked with wood and around 1670 started with marble. From 1655-61 he was an assistant in the studio of Bernini, but Algardi and his student Ercole Ferrata were more influencial to his work. In Genoa he met the french sculptor Pierre Puget. Expecting a great demand for his sculptures, he opened a large studio in Genoa. He worked with many assistants such as Andrea Brustolon and Giacomo Antonio Ponsonelli. His students were Angelo de Rossi and the brothers Francesco and Bernardo Schiaffino. 22nd July 1702 he died in Genoa. Works: Christi at the column, Palazzo Reale, Genoa; Ovids Metamorphose (Venus, Clytie, Adonis and Hyacinth), Palazzo Reale, Genoa The Popes Benedict XV His civic name was Giacomo della Chiesa, and he was born on 21st November 1854 in Genoa, the son of a noble family. He studied law and become a Doctor of Laws. His secondary study was for the priesthood. He finished at the School of Vatican Diplomacy in 1880 with the title „Doctor of Church Law“. 1878 he was ordained as a priest. Most of his time was spent in the Vatican. On 16th December 1907 he became the Archbishop of Bologna, and on 25th May 1914 he became a Cardinal Priest. After the death of Pope Pius X he was elected as Pope Benedict XV. Because of his work during the First World War he is also called the Pope of Peace. In 1922 he died at of pneumonia. Innocent IV. Pope Innocent's civic title was Sinibaldo de Fieschi; he was born in 1195 in Genoa to an upper-class family. After his studies in Parma and Bologna he became one of the most important of canons and reigned from 1243 until 1254. He was hidebound, miserly, craven, scheming and vengeful. He intensified the persecution of witches and heretics and his his bull „Ad Extirpanda“ became one of the rules of the inquisition process, and permitted torture to be used as an enhanced interrogation technique. He died on 7th December 1254 in Naples. Innocent VIII. Innocent VIII was born Giovanni Battista Cibo 1432 in Genoa. Before he became Pope he was the Bishop of Savona (1467), the Bishop of Molfretta, and a Cardinal (1473). He governed as Pope from 1484 until 1492. He was weak and dependent but supported the inquisition and the persecution of witches. Innocent had 8 sons and 8 daughters, who became Dukes and Duchesses of Massa and Carrara. Architect Carlo Francesco Barabino 
He was born 1768 in Genoa and was one of the most important architects and city planners of Genoa. He built the Piazza De Ferrari and the Via XX Settembre – the great shopping mile of Genoa. He also designed the Theatre Carlo Felice (1828), not far from the Piazza De Ferrari. He died in Genoa in 1835. Poet Goffredo Mameli He was born on 5th September 1827 in Genoa. Mameli's fame and importance rests with his contribution to the Risorgimentos. In the age of 13 he discovered a passion poetry. His most important work is the Italian National Anthem „Fratelli d'Italia“ of 1847. Later he fought together with Giuseppe Garibaldi to defend the Roman Republic against France. He died in the age of 22 years 7th July 1849 from an infected wound. Works: Dante and Italy, The Brothers Bandiera, To Carlo Alberto, The battle of Marengo, L'inno militare, Fratelli d'Italia Eugenio Montale He was born 12th October 1896, the son of a Genoese businessman. After military service he began to take an interest in literature, and 1922 he was one of the co-founders of the newspaper „Primo Tempo“. His first book „Ossi di Seppia“, which was published in 1925 made him famous. After a short time he went to Florence to take charge of the libary „Gabinetto Vieusseux“, but his refusal to join the fascist party in 1938 cost him this job. In 1939 his 2nd book „Le occasioni“ was published. Additionally, he worked for the newspapers in Florence and for the Corriere della Sera in Milan. His 3rd book „La bufera e altro“ took long time and was not published until 1956. His poetry book „Satura“ was published in 1971. In his poems he often describes the landscape of Liguria. In 1975 Montale received the Nobel Prize in Literature. He was also made Honorary Doctor at the University of Rome, Milan and Cambridge. He died 12th September 1981 in Milan. Seaman Christoph Columbus The most famous son of Liguria and the discoverer of America is Christoph Columbus. He was born in 1451 in Genoa, although some sources claim that he was born in Savona. In the age of 14 he recognised his passion for the sea and became a seaman. 1477 he went to Lisboa where he worked as as artist, but missing the sea excessively, he returned and took part in several expeditions. He married Felipa Perestreto e Moniz and in 1480 his son Diego was born. They lived on Porto Santo near Madeira. After the death of his wife in 1486, he went with Diego to Córdoba/Spain, where he met Beatriz Enríquez de Arano, though they never married. After a few years his second son Fernando was born. In the name of the Spanish King he set out in 1492 with the ships Santa Maria, Niña and Pinta to find a western passage into Asia. He never found it but on this journay he did come upon America. Columbus died 20th May 1506 in Valladolid. Next to the port (Porto Antico) you can visit the monument of Christoph Columbus in Genoa. Or you can visit his house in the Porta Soprana. It is open on Saturday/Sunday 9:00-12:00 and 2:00-6:00 (Tel: 010 2465346). Freedom Fighter Giuseppe Mazzini One of the most famous freedom fighters of the time of the Risorgimento is Giuseppe Mazzini. He was born 22nd June 1805 in Genoa. His aim was that of the self-determination of the European people. Particulary, he wanted an independent and unique Italy along the lines of a republic. He thought this would only be possible with a revolution and the banishment of the occupying powers. After his studies of law he published his first patroitic article in the "Indicatore Genovese". In 1830 Mazzini was betrayed by a friend, was arrested for 3 months and incarcerated in the prison of Savona. Afterwards he left Italy and went to live in Switzerland and, a short time later, settled in Marseille. He founded the movement Giovine Italia. The newspaper which was published under the same name was smuggled into the Principalities of Italy. At the beginning in 1830 Giuseppe Garibaldi, a famous revolutionist, joined his group. He failed at two attempted coups, and was sentenced to death while in his absence. The Swiss expelled him in 1836, though he did not repent, and went to work in London. Here he established the Partito d'Azione (Party of the Action). He returned unsuccessfully in 1870 to Pisa after Italy became a Constitutional Monarchy in 1861. He died on 10th March 1872. Mazzini was just at this time becoming fascinated by the idea of a European Union. Director Giuliano Montaldo Giuliano Montaldo was born on 22nd February 1930 in Genoa and began his carreer as an actor in the film "Attention! Banditi" (1950). Afterwards he started his apprenticeship as a Director's Assistant for Lizzani and Gillo Pontecorvo. His first film was „Tiro al piccione“ (1960). He mainly created films with historical and political themes. His film "God with us" which dealt with military and religious abuses was nominated for the Golden Palm at the International Film Festival in Cannes. In 1982 he received an Emmy award for his production of "Marco Polo". |
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