La peinture

1711

Begins working in Germany

In the same year he began working in Germany and collaborated with the Venetian painter Antonio Bellucci. Many offers of work at the time may have come from Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, who was in Düsseldorf in 1713–1714.

1716–1728

Works in Bavaria

He worked extensively in the cities and monasteries of Bavaria, painting altarpieces for Würzburg Cathedral and pictures for the Munich Residence; in Munich the engraver Joseph Wagner became his pupil. Other accounts document him in Bavaria only from 1717 and have him back in Venice as early as 1726.

1729 or 1730

Moves to London

He settled in London, where he lived until 1739 apart from a trip to Paris. In portraiture he took an honoured place in the English tradition that followed Van Dyck and Peter Lely.

1734–1735

Meets the singer Farinelli

While he was decorating the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, he met and befriended the celebrated castrato singer Farinelli. Other accounts place their meeting in London or on a trip to Paris in 1736.

1738

Marries the singer Maria Antonia Marchesini

In London he married the mezzo-soprano Maria Antonia Marchesini, known as “La Lucchesina”, who sang in Handel’s operas and oratorios.

1747

Leaves for Madrid

He left for Madrid: Giambattista Tiepolo was then the leading painter in Venice, and Farinelli, who held a court appointment in Spain, encouraged the move. He worked in Spain until the end of his life, mainly on commissions from King Ferdinand VI.