Luigi Valadier

With Artemis Group, David Carritt Limited, London, Valadier: Three Generations of Roman Goldsmiths: An Exhibition of Drawings and Works of Art, 1991, p. 170, album no. 19c

Rome, Villa Medici, L'oro di Valadier: Un genio nella Roma del Settecento, 1997, (catalogue by Alvar González-Palacios), no. 65

Peter Fuhring, 'London, Artemis Valadier Drawings', exhibition review, Burlington Magazine, vol. CXXXIII, no. 1060 (1991), p. 472, fig. 50

Laid down on album sheet. Album sheet has been cut down (it originally had three separate sheets mounted on it). In good condition. Some light staining around the edges, a small ink splash near the upper left corner, most probably a studio stain. Pen and ink and wash remain strong and vibrant. Sold in a simple dark wood frame.
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The following 28 lots are drawings that come from the workshop of the most important Italian goldsmith of the eighteenth century, Luigi Valadier (1726 – 1785).  The Valadier workshop was the principal institute for the decorative arts in the 18^thcentury, employing highly skilled silversmiths and draftsmen.  Luigi Valadier was not only a talented goldsmith but was also an excellent draughtsman and his workshop produced an array of wonderful objéts d’art  for numerous patrons, from silver and gold to bronzes, furniture and pietre dure.  He worked for many prestigious clients on both religious and secular commissions, including the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and the Borghese family.  He also produced works for the Chigi family to mark the celebrations of the wedding of Sigismondo Chigi to Donna Maria Flaminia Odescalchi.  At the height of business Luigi had over 180 employees and in 1779 he was honoured with the distinguished title of ‘Cavaliere’ by Pope Pius VI and was appointed to several official Vatican posts. 

The cross section of works illustrated here provide us with a fascinating insight into the thriving hub of creativity that took place in the Valadier bottega on Via del Babuino in Rome.  They comprise a wide range of drawings from pattern samples of the workshop’s standard designs and highly finished presentation pieces to more basic preliminary drawings that explore ideas for a new design or ornament. 

The majority of the drawings offered here came from the album discovered by John Winter.  The album contained 91 sheets of wove paper (measuring 762 by 535 mm) and were mounted with 144 drawings, the majority of which were glued down into position.   When cataloguing the drawings that came from this particular album we have referenced the album number that they were given when they were with Artemis¹, who listed the drawings in the sequence in which they were preserved within the album (the number refers to the page of the album and the letters to the sequence in which they appear on the page).  For a full discussion on Luigi Valadier and his workshop see the Artemis exhibition catalogue.

Valadier: Three Generations of Roman Goldsmiths: An Exhibition of Drawings and Works of Art, exhib.cat., London, Artemis Group at David Carritt Limited, 1991