Recherches sur Servandoni

Abstract

This study answers essential questions about the life and work of Servandoni, who had both French (Lyon) and Italian (Florence) roots. His most important patron was the pope, and his work was influenced by ancient and Vatican Rome (Bernini). Early in his career, he became famous throughout Europe, and his reputation continued to grow after his death in 1766. He was active in London, Lisbon, Brussels, Dresden, Stuttgart and Vienna, where he, for the wedding of Archduke Joseph of Austria to Isabella of Bourbon-Parma in 1759, transformed the Redoutensaal for three different entertainments: a banquet, a ball and a serenata by Gluck, Tetide. In Paris, however, he was not always successful as an architect or painter