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Louis Dorigny, the son of the engraver Michel Dorigny and the grandson of painter Simon Vouet, was born in Paris.  He studied in Rome in 1671-5 and then probably worked for a short period in Foligno and Gubbio.  He established his career as an artist in Venice in ca. 1680-8, before moving to Verona, where he spent the rest of his life.

Foligno

In addition to the works mentioned below, a number of frescoes (1676-7) in the church of San Martino, Vescia di Foligno, are attributed to Louis Dorigny.

Scenes from the Life of St Augustine (1678)

These 24 frescoes in the cloister of Sant’ Agostino were destroyed in the bombardment of the Second World War.

Frescoes in Palazzo Giusto Orfini (17th century)

Some of the frescoes in the rooms of the piano nobile of Palazzo Giusto Orfini are attributed to Louis Dorigny.

Gubbio

Madonna and Child with St Trophimus (1677)

This altarpiece in Santa Croce della Foce [where ?] depicts the Madonna and Child seated on a cloud.  St Trophimus of Arles below begs them to cure people suffering from gout.   It is probably “il quadro di San Trofimo” for which Agostino Steuchi, the Prior of the Confraternita di Santa Croce della Foce, paid “il Francese” (almost certainly Louis Dorigny) in 1677.  It might have been executed in collaboration with Francesco Allegrini.

Work in Santa Maria del Prato

From at least the 19th century, a number of frescoes in Santa Maria del Prato have been attributed to Louis Dorigny, who was described in this context as “il Giovane del Signor Alegrini” (the young assistant of Francesco Allegrini).  

Frescoes of the Cupola (1677-8)

Bishop Alessandro Sperelli commissioned the frescoes of “la volta e il cupolino” (the large oval vault and the semi-dome above the high altar) from Francesco Allegrini in 1669.  However, work seems to have been delayed by a shortage of funds.  The work probably finally began in 1677, and Allegrini was paid for it in the following year.  While the fresco of the cuplola and those of Faith, Humility and Charity are attributed to Francesco Allegrini, the fresco of Hope in the fourth pendentive is attributed to Louis Dorigny

Other Frescoes (17th century)

Two other frescoes in the church are attributed to Louis Dorigny:

  1. the Baptism of Chris, in the vault above the entrance; and

  2. St Ubaldus imposing peace in Gubbio,  in the vault above the Altare di Sant’ Ubaldo (on the right wall).


Return to Art inFoligno    Gubbio.


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Louis Dorigny (1654-1742)  


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Louis Dorigny in:  Foligno    Gubbio