Giovanni Battista Moroni at the Royal Academy of Arts - Forgotten Genius?

Not many of us can claim to be experts in Renaissance art, but at a push, I’m sure most of us could reel off a few heavyweights; Da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, Botticelli. But Moroni? Nope, me neither. So it was with a combination of ignorance and curiosity that I booked tickets for the Royal Academy’s latest Sackler Wing exhibition on an artist they claim to be one of the greatest portraitists who ever lived – as Time Out put it neatly in their glowing review, ‘Move over Michelangelo’.

Working near Bergamo in Italy over 400 years ago, it seemed to me that Moroni took a while to get into his stride. The first two rooms focus largely on religious works and lack the realism of his society portraits. Dramatic and skilfully painted no doubt, but in the 21^st century these works did nothing to move me and judging by the rate other visitors were rushing through, I wasn’t alone. I was beginning to lose interest when suddenly, the mood shifts and you’re transported to the upper echelons of 16^th century Italian society. Startlingly realistic, Moroni’s portrayals of dukes and ladies, gentleman and high-born children give a powerful sense of the character behind each sitter. One young woman adopts a distinctly haughty expression, as if she’d rather be anywhere else. While his depiction of a tailor at work is remarkable not only for its realism, but also for the fact he was even painting a tailor. Before Moroni, no artist would have dreamed of painting a mere ‘workman’.

Ultimately though, what I found to be most compelling about the brushstrokes of this obscure genius was his talent for painting clothing. It sounds slightly ridiculous when really I suppose you should be drawn to the faces, but I could have stared at luxuriant folds of dresses and remarkably detailed lace collars all day. He captures the sheen of silk, the softness of furs draped around wealthy ladies shoulders and the shine of a leather boot with absolute perfection. It’s like being able to glimpse the pages of a fashion photography magazine from over 400 years ago – extraordinary.

Is Moroni a name worth knowing then? I would say it’s a resounding yes. I’m not quite sure why his reputation isn’t up there with the Titians and Manets of this world but there is no question he was an artist ahead of his time, foreshadowing the Realism movement by centuries. And if portraiture’s not your thing but you have even the smallest interest in fashion, this is an exhibition worth seeing. Hurry though, it closes this month.

Images: 

Giovanni Battista Moroni
Young Lady, c.1560-65
Oil on canvas, 51 x 42cm
Private collection
Photo: Private collection

Giovanni Battista Moroni
The Tailor, c.1570
Oil on canvas, 99.5 x 77cm
The National Gallery, London
Photo c. The National Gallery, London