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GIULIO CAMPI
Cremona c.1508 ~ 1573 Cremona
Giulio Campi was a prominent member of this family of artists who came from Cremona near Milan. However, their work tended to reflect the style in other
naorthern cities such as Brecia, Bologna and Mantua. Giulio's early work was undoubtedly influenced by that of Giuli Romano in the latter's decoration of Palazzo Te, Mantua, and this influence is apparent in our
drawing. The frieze, for the Sala dei Cavalli, with grey-blue background and weaving acanthus containing playful putti, is very close in spirit to our drawing.1 Actual drawings by Giulio Romano, reflected in the style of our sheet, are a Spandrel
with amorini, cornucopia and sphinx, Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, and a Modello for ornamental frieze, London, British Museum.2 The latter is freer and more organic than our sheet but Campi possibly saw the Tomb of Lodovico Boccadiferro, Church of San Francesco, Bologna, for which it was a design.
It is probable that our drawing is preparatory for a frieze decoration in the Church of San Sigismondo, Cremona, projected in 1535, but not actually built until 1539 – 1542.3 The frieze decoration, in some of the spandrels of the transept vault, is very close to our sheet and we know that Giulio Campi worked on the transepts of this church.4
1. Frederick Hartt, Giulio Romano, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1958, vol.II, fig 180 & vol. I, pp. 114 – 115.
2. Hartt, cit. fig. 352 and fig. 538.
3. Maria Luisa Ferrari, Il Tempio di San Sigismondo a Cremona, Casa di Risp-armio delle Provincie Lombarde, Milan, 1974, p.84, fig. 86.
4. I am very grateful to Giulio Bora for dating this drawing for me. It is to appear in his forthcoming catalogue on Cremonese drawings.
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