Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Corrado Giaquinto died in 1765; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1835.
In context
Autumn — Corrado Giaquinto
The original measures 132 × 176 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 62 at death.
Painted when the artist was 47. The artist lived to 62. 3 of the 11 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Corrado Giaquinto (1703–1765) ▲ this work, 1750 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1740 Main working years: 1740–1762 Late works: from 1762
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/corrado-giaquinto-autumn-D38HJS-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Sea Green #506871
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 18 works by this artist, of which 7 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Molfetta, Italy
In the grand tapestry of eighteenth-century European art, few threads shimmer with as much grace and ethereal light as those woven by Corrado Giaquinto. A true master of the Rococo era, Giaquinto possessed a rare ability to bridge the heavy, dramatic shadows of the Neapolitan Baroque with the airy, pastel elegance that would define the mid-century aesthetic. Born in Molfetta, Italy, in 1703, his journey from a provincial apprentice to one of the most sought-after painters in Europe is a testament to a talent that could harmonize the monumental with the delicate.
Giaquinto’s artistic DNA was formed within the prestigious workshops of Naples, where he first learned the rigors of craftsmanship under Saverio Porta. However, it was his immersion in the studio of Francesco Solimena that provided him with a foundational mastery of theatrical grandeur and meticulous realism. Under Solimena’s watchful eye, Giaquinto absorbed the gravity of the Baroque tradition, learning how to command space and use light to evoke profound religious devotion. Yet, the young artist was never content to remain in the shadow of his mentor; he possessed an innate restlessness that drove him toward new horizons.
The movement of his soul toward Rome in 1723 marked a transformative era in his development. In the vibrant Roman art scene, Giaquinto encountered the spirited influence of Luca Giordano and the refined elegance of Sebastiano Conca. While Solimena had taught him structure and weight, Giordano offered a vision of expressive dynamism and emotional intensity. This encounter allowed Giaquinto to soften his palette, introducing a luminous, almost translucent quality to his brushwork that would become his signature. He began to move away from the somber tones of the previous century, embracing a brighter, more rhythmic approach to composition that breathed life into every canvas.
As his reputation ascended, Giaquinto’s work transcended borders, leading him to undertake some of the most prestigious commissions of the age. His skill as a decorator and storyteller was most vividly realized in his monumental frescoes, where he transformed architectural spaces into celestial visions. The breathtaking works adorning San Lorenzo in Damaso and Santa Croce in Gerusalemme serve as enduring testaments to his ability to manipulate scale and light, creating immersive environments that draw the viewer upward toward the divine.
His achievements were not confined to the Italian peninsula; his artistry resonated deeply within the courts of Europe. One of his most celebrated triumphs was the creation of the altarpiece of Saint John Nepomuk for St Mary Major Cathedral in Prague. This work, along with his various international engagements, solidified his status as a pan-European figure capable of speaking the universal language of beauty and faith. Through his brush, the heavy textures of the Baroque were transmuted into the light, dancing strokes of the Rococo, leaving behind a legacy that continues to enchant those who seek the sublime in art.
The historical significance of Corrado Giaquinto lies in his role as a stylistic bridge. He did not merely follow trends; he synthesized them. By blending the following elements, he created a unique aesthetic language:
Solimena’s Foundation: The structural integrity and dramatic weight of Neapolitan tradition.
Giordano’s Vitality: An infusion of movement, speed, and emotional spontaneity.
Rococo Luminosity: A sophisticated use of light and pastel tones that captured the elegance of the 18th century.
topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/corrado-giaquinto-autumn-D38HJS-en/
Look closely
Autumn — Corrado Giaquinto
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
"Autumn" dates from 1750. The date places the work within Corrado Giaquinto's career and its era.
The color composition of "Autumn" by Corrado Giaquinto combines a balanced contrast with a balanced harmony harmony.
The light-dark contrast of "Autumn" is recorded as balanced. Contrast describes how strongly light and dark areas differ.