Angelo
Nardi
(1584-1665)
Biographical
A painter, he lived with his uncle Francesco in Venice and studied painting
there, particularly the works of Veronese. Between 1607 to 1615, he moved
to Spain where a number of artists had achieved considerable success under
the Habsburgs. He soon became a prolific painter, mainly of religious
works in Madrid and Castilla-La-Mancha. His first important commission
was in 1619 when he was contracted to complete thirty-three paintings
for the church of the monastery of the Bernardines in Alcala de Henares.
In 1620, he assumed responsibility of the workshop of the deceased
painter Marcos de Aguilera, and to ensure its survival, his widow convinced
Nardi to marry her daughter Ana. Her son Lorenzo also became Nardi's apprentice
at the workshop. This arrangement soon failed and Nardi began a number
of lawsuits against the family and a request for an annulment which was
eventually granted in 1625. In that year, he was commissioned to complete
paintings for the altar of the church of San Pedro di Vallecas. He completed
a number of works for other churches and convents including the church
of San Hermenegildo of the Discalced Carmelites, the convent of San Francisco,
and the church of the Virgin of Atocha. In 1625, he had been appointed
painter to the king for Felipe IV, and was chosen as a court-painter in
1627, but was never appointed due to budget restrictions that were imposed
by the Real Hacienda. By 1631, however, he was paid the equivalent of
a court-painter for commissions he had carried out for the king. He named
María de Ocines as his sole heir. Nardi helped raise her son, Diego José
Moratón, during the absence of his father. He continued in his post at
the court until his death.[2]
Place of birth: Razzo di Vaglia del Mugello[2]
Place of death: Madrid[2]
Place of burial: Church of Santa María del Carmen y San Luís, Madrid[2]
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