Albertolli was born into a family of artists in
Bedano, a village 7 km north of the (at the time)
landvogtei capital
Lugano in what today is
Ticino. He studied sculpture in
Parma, and became known for his ornamental architectural decorations. In 1770, he travelled to
Tuscany to work with his brother Grato on the stucco decoration of the
Villa del Poggio Imperiale. He then visited Rome and Naples, where he briefly worked with
Carlo Vanvitelli. In 1774, he returned to his family in Bedano; soon he met up with
Giuseppe Piermarini for whom he collaborated in future stucco decoration of palaces in
Milan. From 1775–1779, Piermarini built the
Royal Villa of Monza, where Albertolli provided the stucco decoration. Albertolli also worked in the
Palazzo Melzi d'Eril in Milan and designed (1808–1815) the famed lakeside
Villa Melzi d'Eril in
Bellagio. He also rebuilt a
Bramantesque chapel in
Moncucco, called
Shrine of Saint Lucius. It is acknowledged by many historians that Albertolli contributed to give a new impetus to the art of ornamental design in Italy. He worked on the design of altars, candlesticks, chalices, and lamps for churches. Conversely, he didn't produce many paintings. A
Madonna and Child by him is visible in the Milanese church of San Rocco. In 1776 Albertolli was nominated Professor of
ornamenti architettonici (architectural ornament) at the newly created
Brera Academy in Milan; he held this post for more than a quarter of a century until failing eyesight caused him to resign in 1812. In 1809
Napoleon made him a
Knight of the Iron Crown. Albertolli published a number of essays on his art, including: •
Ornamenti Diversi (1782) •
Alcune Decorazioni di Nobili Sale (1787) •
Miscellanea per i giovanni studioso del disegno (1796) •
Corso elementare di ornamenti architettonici (1805) Albertolli died in Milan in 1839 at the age of ninety-six. His son, was an engraver. Giocondo's nephew,
Giacomo Albertolli, was a professor of civil architecture in
Padua and later in Milan, where he replaced his former teacher, Piermarini. == Notes ==