DOI issue:
No. 40 (July, 1896)
DOI article:Beltrami, G.: An Italian artist: Luigi Conconi
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17297#0100
An Italian Artist
in the first place, because they appear to me to be His mind was thronged with fancies, and he must
worthy of remark in themselves, and, secondly, needs find a means of expressing them, and that
because they will enable your readers to get a better completely and without delay. This medium he
idea of the spirit of his productions. From what found in his brush. Just at that period Tran-
I have already said it will be understood that Con- quillo Cremona was engaged in revolutionising the
coni's sensibility dominates his will—a fact to which art of Milan. All the younger artists, just freed
his whole career bears testimony. from the traditional academic formulae, recognised
Before devoting himself to painting, Conconi in the work of their master a loftiness of spirit,
studied architecture, and gave signs of possessing united with dignity of draughtsmanship and rich-
a really remarkable gift of fancy and originality, ness of colour, and a remarkable freedom of style.
His design sent in for the competition in connection All the young artists of Lombardy who came in
with the monument of Victor Emmanuel in Rome contact with Cremona were carried along by an
filled all the artists who saw it with wonder at the irresistible current of enthusiasm, and one and all
boldness and freshness of its conception ; but its were more or less influenced by him. Conconi
great size alarmed the judges who had to choose became his favourite pupil, his friend and constant
the design and arrange for its execution. His idea companion ; and his work of that period shows the
was to erect, upon one of the hills of Rome, a direct inspiration of his master's art. But whereas
series of buildings of sober
style but splendid propor-
tions, to serve as Houses
of Parliament, Government
offices, and Law Courts,
and representing the New
Italy, in contrast to the
Vatican opposite. Con-
spicuous amid these build-
ings, and as the converging
point of the surrounding
plans, was to be a statue of
Victor Emmanuel, seated
on his throne—the personi-
fication and the synthesis
of the national sentiment.
It is easy to see how a
great scheme of this kind
was foredoomed to failure
in a frivolous, calculating
age like this; and thus,
notwithstanding its unques-
tionable excellence, the
design was not seriously
taken into consideration.
Conconi threw himself
into his architectural work
with the utmost enthusiasm,
and with more determina-
tion than he has ever dis-
played; but work of this
kind has rigid limitations,
and its mathematical and
utilitarian exigences proved
too trying for a tempera-
ment so mobile and so
intolerant of impediments. "la casa del mago " from a mezzotint by l. conconi
85
in the first place, because they appear to me to be His mind was thronged with fancies, and he must
worthy of remark in themselves, and, secondly, needs find a means of expressing them, and that
because they will enable your readers to get a better completely and without delay. This medium he
idea of the spirit of his productions. From what found in his brush. Just at that period Tran-
I have already said it will be understood that Con- quillo Cremona was engaged in revolutionising the
coni's sensibility dominates his will—a fact to which art of Milan. All the younger artists, just freed
his whole career bears testimony. from the traditional academic formulae, recognised
Before devoting himself to painting, Conconi in the work of their master a loftiness of spirit,
studied architecture, and gave signs of possessing united with dignity of draughtsmanship and rich-
a really remarkable gift of fancy and originality, ness of colour, and a remarkable freedom of style.
His design sent in for the competition in connection All the young artists of Lombardy who came in
with the monument of Victor Emmanuel in Rome contact with Cremona were carried along by an
filled all the artists who saw it with wonder at the irresistible current of enthusiasm, and one and all
boldness and freshness of its conception ; but its were more or less influenced by him. Conconi
great size alarmed the judges who had to choose became his favourite pupil, his friend and constant
the design and arrange for its execution. His idea companion ; and his work of that period shows the
was to erect, upon one of the hills of Rome, a direct inspiration of his master's art. But whereas
series of buildings of sober
style but splendid propor-
tions, to serve as Houses
of Parliament, Government
offices, and Law Courts,
and representing the New
Italy, in contrast to the
Vatican opposite. Con-
spicuous amid these build-
ings, and as the converging
point of the surrounding
plans, was to be a statue of
Victor Emmanuel, seated
on his throne—the personi-
fication and the synthesis
of the national sentiment.
It is easy to see how a
great scheme of this kind
was foredoomed to failure
in a frivolous, calculating
age like this; and thus,
notwithstanding its unques-
tionable excellence, the
design was not seriously
taken into consideration.
Conconi threw himself
into his architectural work
with the utmost enthusiasm,
and with more determina-
tion than he has ever dis-
played; but work of this
kind has rigid limitations,
and its mathematical and
utilitarian exigences proved
too trying for a tempera-
ment so mobile and so
intolerant of impediments. "la casa del mago " from a mezzotint by l. conconi
85