The Life and Activity of Angelo Maria Crivelli

Angelo Maria Crivelli, often called Crivellone, lived a life deeply connected to the landscapes and natural life of Lombardy. Born in Milan during the second half of the 17th century, he grew up in a region where the observation of nature was becoming a central focus for many painters. While the exact details of his early years remain unrecorded, his presence in the artistic circles of Milan is well-documented through his professional activity.

His career flourished at the turn of the eighteenth century, a period when his specialized focus on animals and hunting scenes found a dedicated audience. He was particularly popular among the wealthy bourgeoisie and the petite noblesse of Milan, who sought his depictions of birds, fish, and game. His work was not merely about decoration; he was recognized as a significant specialist in his chosen genres, bringing a sense of truth to the creatures he painted.

The historical record shows that Angelo Maria Crivelli was active between 1703 and 1730. His professional life in Lombardy spanned these decades, leaving behind a vast and varied body of work that was widely dispersed across the region. He died around 1730, marking the end of a productive era for a painter who helped define the representation of the natural world in his time.

Artistic Style and Subject Matter

Crivellone found his purpose in the quiet, often raw details of the natural world. He was a specialist in the depiction of animals, focusing his brush on the life of birds, both wild and domestic. His canvases frequently featured poultry, fish, and the various creatures found in a farmyard or a hunting ground. Whether he was painting a group of birds or the movement of fish, there was a specific interest in the physical presence of these animals. His work often centered on hunting scenes and the animals that populated them, from courtly pets to the game sought by hunters.

His approach to painting was shaped by a blend of local traditions and influences from further north. He drew inspiration from the works of local painter Angelo Maria Rossi, yet his style also looked toward the Flemish tradition. The influence of northern European artists like Frans Much is evident in his work, as well as the stylistic circles of Rubens, Frans Snyders, and Paul de Vos. This connection to Flemish painting helped him bring a particular sense of life to his animal subjects, capturing the spirit of the creatures he observed.

His output was vast and varied, making him a popular choice for the wealthy bourgeoisie and the petite noblesse of Milan. He had a knack for rendering the textures of feathers and scales with a sense of truth. Some of his subjects included:

• Wild and domestic birds
• Fish and aquatic life
• Poultry and farm animals
• Hunting scenes and game

Notable Works in Private and Public Collections

Crivelli’s presence in major European museums allows us to see the breadth of his interest in the natural world. In Copenhagen, the Statens Museum For Kunst holds his Landscape with Birds, a work dating from about 1697. His fascination with the life of the farmyard is also well-documented; the Musée de Grenoble houses both Animaux de basse-cour and Farmyard Animals, the latter of which is dated about 1800.

The artist also turned his gaze toward himself, leaving behind several self-portraits that offer a glimpse into his own identity. At the Pinacothèque de Brera in Milan, he painted Autoritratto con fucile e cane. A similar sense of character is found in his Autoritratto in veste da cacciatore, which is held in the Museo Poldi Pezzoli. These works, alongside his depictions of hunting and poultry, show a man deeply connected to the rural life of Lombardy.

Other significant pieces are held in various collections across Europe, including:

• Gallo, Tacchini et Pulcini (1710-1720), Accademia Carrara, Bergamo
• Scène de chasse, Narodna galerija Slovenije, Ljubljana

Where to See His Works Today

Finding the traces of Angelo Maria Crivelli requires a bit of travel across Europe, as his paintings are held in various public institutions. In Italy, his presence is felt in several significant locations. You can find his work in the Pinacoteca of the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, as well as in the Palazzo Reale in Turin. Other pieces are held in the Museo Poldi Pezzoli and the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo.

Beyond the borders of Italy, his paintings have traveled much further. In Denmark, his work is part of the collection at the Statens Museum For Kunst in Copenhagen. Moving toward France, the Musée de Grenoble holds one of his paintings. His reach extends into Central Europe as well, with works located in the Narodna galerija Slovenije in Ljubljana.