Agostino Scilla
Agostino Scilla ( born August 10, 1629 in Messina, † May 31, 1700 in Rome) was an Italian painter of the Baroque, paleontologist, numismatist and as a geologist, a pioneer in the study of fossils.
Life
The son of a government official initially studied painting under Antonio Barbalonga. He then went to Rome for four years in the workshop of Andrea Sacchi (1599-1661) and continued into consideration in particular the art of Raphael and the humanist ideas of the Renaissance. Back in Messina, he joined the local Accademia della Fucina a study of numismatics and with the study of fossils, which he found in Sicily. In his search, he was accompanied occasionally by the famous physician and botanist Paolo Boccone ( 1633-1704 ).
At the same time he created paintings and frescoes, the ceiling fresco of 1657 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel Cathedral of Syracuse is considered his major work. In addition to paintings religious content, some still life have been preserved by him, which are located in private and public collections.
In 1670 he published his scientific treatise " La vana speculazione disingannata dal senso ".
As a result of the regency by the Spanish Bourbons and the ruthless policies of the Minister Bernardo Tanuccikam 1672-1678 unrest in Messina, Scilla the 1679 to flee to France and subsequently to Turin led, where he was taken in the royal court. A short time later he went to Rome, where he in 1679 member of the Accademia di San Luca, and was elected to the Congregation dei Virtuosi on February 10, 1680 on October 1. The latter he was also in 1681 and 1685 before as regent. When he died in Rome, requiems were for him on July 7, 1700 in the order of the Congregation read. A pupil of Agostino 's younger brother, the animal painter Giacinto Scilla (d. 1711), son of Saverio Scilla ( 1673-1748 ) and Antonio Madiona are ( active in the 17th century ) mentioned.
Work
- Chiesa Santa Agata (Caltanissetta ): main altar painting " Martyrdom of St. Agatha " (1654 )
- Chiesa Santa Maria della Conception (Syracuse): altar painting " Holy Family with Angels "
- Cathedral of Syracuse Cappella del Sacramento: ceiling frescoes ( Elia, Habakkuk and Daniel - 1657 )
- Museo Regionale di Messina: St Benedict