Ligurian Famousness

On this page you will find a lot of famous sons and daughters of Liguria. Furthermore you will get information where you can still find artworks, birthplaces, monuments or museums of these peoples.

Artists

Ludovico Brea (painter)

He was born around 1450 in Montalto Ligure in the Argentina Valley. He died in 1522 in Genoa. His works were especially altars which are prepared in the Flemish and Lombardian Style. You can find them in Nice and in the villages around Liguria.
Artworks: Pietà (1475) in the church of Cimiez, Nice; Winged altar (1516) in San Giovanni Battista e Giorgio, Montalto Ligure; Crocifissione (1481) Palazzo Bianco, Genoa; Ascenzione(1483) Galleria Durazzo Giustiniani, Genoa; La Madonna di Misericordia (1483-84), the winged altar of S. Caterina (1488) and the Baptism of Christi (1495) in the church and the Dominican Convent, Taggia; La Pietà, Cathedral in Monaco; La Maestà, Church of Arcs-Van

Luca Cambiaso (painter)

He was born 18th November 1527 in Moneglia. His artist abilities came from his father Giovanni with who developed his paint tecnis. Later he studied and extended the work of Michelangelo. Raffael, Beccafumi, Pordenone, Perin del Vaga, Correggio and Parmigianino. He is one of the most famous painter of 15th century of Genoa. Many of his works are situated in Genoa. 1583 Philipp II. invited him to Spain to finish the mural painting of the Escorial (which was started of Castello). Unfortunately he died before completion 6th September 1585 in San Lorenzo of El Escorial.
Works: Frescos in the Palazzo Doria (1547-48), Genoa; Palazzo Imperiale (Piazza Campetto,1560), Genoa; Cappella Lercari, (1562) Dome, Genoa; Diana e Atteone, Palazzo Bianco, Genoa; Altar picture of S. Benedetto (1562), Dome, Genoa; Christo davanti Caifa e Madonna della candela, Palazzo Bianco, Genoa; The Resurrection (1547) SS. Giacomo e Filippo, Taggia; The Adoration of the Magi, Galleria Sabaudo, Turin

Domenico Piola (painter and engraver)

He was born 1627 in Genoa and worked as a painter and engraver. The works of del Grechetto and Rubens has influenced his works. He died 1703 in Genoa.
Works: Frescos, S. Marta and S. Giacomo della Marina, Genoa; Allegory of Autumn and Winter, Palazzo Rosso, Genoa; Frescos Chiesa dell'Annunziata, S. Siro (Chapel S. Gaetano) and S. Luca, Genoa

Bernardo Castello (painter)

He was born 1557 in Albaro/Genoa. You will find his works basically in Genoa. He was a student of Semino and Cambiaso. He died 1629 in Genoa.
Works: The Holy Family, Galleria Nazionae e Accademia Lingustica, Genoa; The Rape of the Sabine Women, Palazzo Rosso, Genoa

Alessandro Magnasco (painter))

1667 he was born in Genoa. He lived many years in Milan, where he studied the works of Cerano, Crespi and Procaccini. 1703-1711 he worked at the Court of the Earl Gian Gastoe de Medici in Florence. Since 1711 he lived and worked again in North Italy. At this time he started drawings of the monkhood and their everyday life. 1735 the turned back to Genoa, where he created a lot of paintings with religious topics, landscapes and scenes of aristocratic life.
Works: S. Antonio preaches the fishermen, Private Collection, Genoa; Ricevimento in una casa patrizia, Palazzo Bianco, Genoa

Angiola Veronica Airola (paintress)

She lived in 1590-1670 in the Baroque period and worked basically in Genoa. She was one of the few women in painting and student of Domenico Fiasella. Some years later she became a nun in San Bartolomeo dell'Olivello. In her paintings religious themes were the the main focus.
Works: Frescos in the Dome Annunziata, Genoa

Giovanni Andrea Ansaldo (painter)

He was born in 1584 in Voltri/Genoa as a son of a salesman. He was a student of Orazio Cambiaso and worked together with Bernardo Strozzi. Later he taughted Giuseppe Badaracco and Bartolomeo Bassi. His work was influenced by the Flemish artists like f. ex. Rubens and van Dyck as well as Crespi, Proccacini and il Morazzone. He died 18th August 1638 in Genoa.
Works: Frescos at the cupola of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato (1635-38), Genoa; Exposition in the Accademia Linguistica, Genoa

Guilio Benso (painter)

He was born 30th November 1592 in Pieve di Teco and was one of the early Baroque painter who was famous to continue the style of Luca Cambiaso. He started as a student of Giovanni Carl Doria and short-time later he met Procaccini. Afterward he studied at the Accademia del Nudo in Genoa and started the apprenticeship by Giovanni Battista Paggi. He died in 1668.
Works: Palazzo Grimaldi, Cagnes-sur-Mer; Frescos in the apse of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato, Genoa; Sant'Ambrogio, Alassio

Bernardo Strozzi (painter)

He was born 1581 in Genoa and famous under the name il Prete Genovese (the priest of Genoa) and il Cappucchino. He lived as an Capuchin Monk. His basic work were portraits, influenced of the Flemish artists like Aersten, Rubens and van Dyck. He died 2nd August 1644 in Venice.
Works: Il Paradiso, Accademia Lingustica di Belli Arti, Genoa; 5 paintings in the Palazzo Bianco, Genoa; 7 paintings amongst other „The cook“ in the Palazzo Rosso, Genoa

Giovanni Bernardo Carbone (painter)

He was born in 1616 in Sant Martino d'Albaro and was considered as the sucessor of van Dyck in the portrait painting. He painted especially religious and historical themes. In 1683 he died in Genoa.
Works: The Holy Louis adores the Crux (1662), SS. Annunziata, Genoa; Mary with the child and 6 Saints (1647), San Teodoro, Genoa; Mary with the child and the Saint Anthony of Padua (1665), Parish Church, Celle Ligure

Filippo Parodi (sculptor)

He was born 1630 as a son of a sculptor family. In his early years he worked with wood and just around 1670 he started with marble. From 1655-61 he was an assistent in the studio of Bernini. But Algardi and his student Ercole Ferrata had more influence to his work. In Genoa he met the french sculptor Pierre Puget. Regarding a great demand of his sculptures he had to open a big studio in Genoa. He worked together with many assistens like Andrea Brustolon and Giacomo Antonio Ponsonelli. His students were Angelo de Rossi and the brothers Francesco and Bernardo Schiaffino. 22nd July 1702 he died in Genoa.
Works: Christi at the column, Palazzo Reale, Genoa; Ovids Metamorphose (Venus, Clytie, Adonis and Hyacinth), Palazzo Reale, Genoa

The popes

Benedict XV

His civical name is Giacomo della Chiesa and he was born 21st November 1854 in Genoa as a son of a noble family. He studied law and become a Doctor of Laws. His second study was the priesthood . He finished the School of the Vatican Diplomacy in 1880 with the title „Doctor of Church Law“. 1878 he was ordained to a priest. Most of his time he has been in the Vatican. 16th December 1907 he became the Archbishop of Bologna. 25th May 1914 he became a Cardinal Priest. After the death of Pope Pius X he was elected to Pope Benedict XV. Regarding his work in the First World War he is also called the Pope of Peace. In 1922 he died at a pseumonia.

Innocent IV.

The Pope Innozenz is civically called Sinibaldo de Fieschi and was born in 1195 in Genoa. His family counted to the upper-class. After his studies in Parma and Bologna he was one of the most important canons. His papacy was from 1243 until 1254. He was hidebounded, grabby, craven, scheming and vengeful. He had intensified the persecution of witches and heretics. His bull „Ad Extirpanda“ became a rule in the inquisition process. In this script the torture was allowed as an implement to ascertaining the truth. He died 7th December 1254 in Naples.

Innocent VIII.

Innozenz VIII. was born as Giovanni Battista Cibo 1432 in Genoa. Before he became Pope he was the Bishop of Savona (1467), Bishop of Molfretta and Cardinal (1473). He governed as a Pope 1484 until 1492. He was a weak and dependent pope but he was a supporter of the inquisition and persecution of witches. Innozenz had 8 sons and 8 daughters, who became Dukes and Duchess of Massa and Carrara.

Architect

Carlo Francesco Barabino

He was born 1768 in Genoa and was one of the most important architects and cityplanner of Genoa. He built the Piazza De Ferrari and the Via XX Settembre – the great shoppingmile of Genoa. Futhermore he designed the Theatre Carlo Felice (1828) that is across the Piazza De Ferrari. He died in Genoa in 1835.

Poet

Goffredo Mameli

He was born 5th September 1827 in Genoa. Mameli was a famous and an important person of the Risorgimentos. In the age of 13 years he found his passion for the poems. His most important work is the Italian National Anthem „Fratelli d'Italia“ of 1847. Later he fought together with Giuseppe Garibaldi to defend the Roman Republic against France. He died in the age of 22 years 7th July 1849 on the implications of an infected wound.
Works: Dante and Italy, The Brothers Bandiera, To Carlo Alberto, The battle of Marengo, L'inno militare, Fratelli d'Italia

Eugenio Montale

He was born 12th October 1896 as a son of a business man in Genoa. After the military service he started to be interested in literature. 1922 he was one of the co-founders of the newspaper „Primo Tempo“. His first book „Ossi di Seppia“, which was published in 1925 made him to a famous author. After short time he went to Florence to lead the libary „Gabinetto Vieusseux“. Regarding his refusal to join the fascistic party, he lost 1938 this job. 1939 his 2nd book „Le occasioni“ was published. Additionally he worked for the newspapers in Florence and for the Corriere della Sera in Milan. His 3rd book „La bufera e altro“ has taken a long time and was published in 1956. His poetry book „Satura“ was published in 1971. In his poems he often describes the landscape of Liguria. 1975 Montale got the Nobel Prize in Literature. Furthermore he was a Honorary Doctor at the University of Rome, Milan and Cambridge. He died 12th September 1981 in Milan.

Seaman

Christoph Columbus

The most famous son of Liguria and the discoverer of America is Christoph Columbus. He was born 1451 in Genoa. But there are also writings which said that he was born in Savona. In the age of 14 years he recognized his passion for the sea and became a seaman. 1477 he went to Lisboa where he worked as a drawer. But he missed the sea and returned back and took part on several expeditions. He married Felipa Perestreto e Moniz. In 1480 his son Diego was born. All together they lived on Porto Santo in the near of Madeira. After the death of his wife in 1486, he went with Diego to Córdoba/Spain. He got to know his second wife Beatriz Enríquez de Arano, but they never married. After a few years his second son Fernando was born. In the name of the Spanish King he started in 1492 with the ships Santa Maria, Niña and Pinta to find a western seaway to Asia. He never found the desired way but on this journay he discovered America. Columbus died 20th May 1506 in Valladolid.
Next to the port (Porto Antico) you can visit the monument of Christoph Columbus in Genoa. Or you can visit his house in the Porta Soprana. It is open on Saturday/Sunday 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00 (Tel: 010 2465346).

Freedom Fighter

Giuseppe Mazzini

One of the most famous freedom fighter to the time of the Risorgimento is Giuseppe Mazzini. He was born 22nd June 1805 in Genoa. His aim was the self-determination of the European Peoples. Particulary he wanted an independent and unique Italy like a republic. He thought that this is only possible with a revolution and the banishment of the occupying powers. After his studies of law he published his first patroitic article in the "Indicatore Genovese". 1830 Mazzini was betrayed of a friend and was arrested for 3 months in the prison of Savona. Afterwards he left Italy and went to live in Switzerland and short-time later in Marseille. He founded the movement Giovine Italia. The newspaper which was published under the same name was smuggled in the Princedomes of Italy. At the beginning in 1830 Giuseppe Garibaldi – a famous revolutionist joined his group. He failed with two attempted coups , while he was in spite of absence he was fated to die. The Switzerland expeled him in 1836. But he never changed his mind and went to and worked in London. Here he established the Partito d'Azione (Party of the Action). He returned unsuccessfully in 1870 to Pisa after Italy became a Constitutional Monarchy in 1861. He died 10th March 1872. Mazzini was just at this time fascinated of an idea of an European Union.

Director

Giuliano Montaldo

Giuliano Montaldo was born 22nd February 1930 in Genoa and has started his carreer as an actor in the film "Attention! Banditi" (1950). Afterwards he started the apprenticeship as a Director Assistent by Lizzani and Gillo Pontecorvo. His first film was „Tiro al piccione“ (1960). Mostly he created films with historical and political themes. His film "God with us" which covered the abuse of the military and religious might was nominated for the golden palm at the International Film Festival in Cannes. 1982 he got the Emmy for his production of "Marco Polo".