The Life and Art of Antonio Cavallucci
Born in Sermoneta, Italy, Antonio Cavallucci was an eighteenth-century painter who specialized in portraits and religious scenes. His artistic journey began in his youth when his talents were recognized by Francesco Caetani, the Duke of Sermoneta. In 1765, he moved to Rome to study under Stefano Pozzi and later Gaetano Lapis, while also pursuing drawing at the Accademia di San Luca. His early works include a tempera frieze in the Casa Cavallucci and a portrait of the Duke of Sermoneta, which survives as an engraving by Pietro Leone Bombelli.
Cavallucci’s career was marked by significant commissions, such as the decoration of five audience chambers in the Palazzo Caetani in Rome, featuring mythological scenes and allegories. His notable works include:
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Cavallucci traveled throughout Italy, including a period in the retinue of Cardinal Romoaldo Braschi-Onesti. He received various commissions from the Braschi family, including portraits of Pope Pius VI. His work also reached Naples, where he painted the Principe del Belvedere, and he contributed to the decoration of the Cappella del Carmelo in Rome for Cardinal Francesco Saverio de Zelada. Cavallucci was admitted to the Accademia di San Luca and the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon. He died in Rome.
