FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY, MILAN, IN THE MANNER OF GIUSEPPE MAGGIOLINI,

Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738-1814) was first noticed for his advanced and highly skilled marquetry work in 1768, when he was visited by the designer Giuseppe Levati and Marchese Litta, which led to several commissions at the villa of the Marchese. He was soon recognized in wider circles and held the title of Intarsiatore delle Loro Altezze Reali. In 1771 he received his first important commission to supply furniture to the Milanese court, on the marriage of the Archduke Ferdinando di Lorena and Duchess Maria Beatrice d'Este. His workshop grew to thirty employees, and subsequently, among others, supervised the construction and furnishing projects of the Palazzo Ducale in Milan, the Villa Reale in Monza and the Palazzo Ducale in Mantova. He enjoyed great success and numerous commissions from the bourgeoisie in Northern Italy. It was only with the political changes of 1796, which overthrew the old regime, that his success diminished before receiving important commissions anew towards the end of the century. He died impoverished in 1814.