Francesco Coghetti Sold at Auction Prices

Painter, b. 1801 - d. 1875

Francesco Coghetti (12 July 1801 – 20 April 1875) was an Italian painter and art school administrator. He was born to a wealthy family which enabled him to be educated at prestigious private schools. After completing his primary studies, he enrolled at the Accademia Carrara, where he studied with Giuseppe Diotti. In 1818, he won the Accademia's drawing competition.

In 1820, he moved to Milan. The following year, he won an award for drawing and design from the Brera Academy. This encouraged him to move to Rome and, thanks to his father's financial support, he was able to study with Vincenzo Camuccini. He also enjoyed the patronage of Cardinal Angelo Mai, who was a fellow Bergamaschi. In 1825, he was married. The 1830s were a very successful time for him, during which he won several awards and received a continual flow of commissions from all over Europe.

In 1844, he was offered the position of Director at the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City, but declined to accept. Fourteen years later, faced with declining commissions, he accepted a position as President of the Accademia di San Luca. In the late 1860s, he became involved in politics as well as art, when preparations were being made for the Papal States to be annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. The Accademia was considered to be part of the Pope's temporal domain and was transformed into the "Royal Academy".

It was a difficult process and, because he had already come under criticism for his performance in office, he was relieved of his teaching duties in 1873 and suspended as President. Two years later, he died of apoplexy.