MORELLI, Giovanni, Italian art critic and statesman: b. Verona, 25 Feb. 1816; d. Milan, 28 Feb. 1891. He was educated at Bergamo, then Aarau (Switzerland), but turned his studies to natural science at Munich, becoming interested at the same time in art through Genelli, the painter. After a short stay at Erlangen and a visit to Berlin, where he made the acquaintance of Waagen, the art critic, he joined (1838) Agassiz in investigating the Swiss glaciers. In Paris and Siena and through numerous journeys he gained increasing culture and made acquaintance with Manzoni, Gino Capponi and other prominent Italians. In 1848 he took to politics for a short while, never returning to that field till (1859) he was made commander of the National Guard at Magenta. In 1860-70 he was elected deputy for Bergamo, and (1873) became senator of the kingdom of Italy. His knowledge in art criticism gained during his travels he published in treatises in Zeitschrift fur bildende Kunst (1874-76). His
work 'Die Werke italienischer Meister in den galerien von Miinchen, Dresden und Berlin' (Leipzig 1880), contains his criticism, empiric principles being their base, and show unexcelled connoiseurship. As sequels to this clever work amplifications are contained in the later pub lished 'Kunstkritischen Studien iiber italien ische Malerei) : Vol. I, Galerien Borghese and Doria Pamfili in Rom> (Leipzig 1890), Vol. II, 'Die Gaulerien zu Miinchen und Dres den' (ib. 1891) and Vol. III, 'Die Galerie zu Berlin' (ib. 1893). Italian translations of these were published (Milan 1897). His 'Kunst kritische Studien' has been translated by Ffoulkes into English under the title of 'Italian Painters; critical studies of their works' (1892). In 1895 a monument was erected at Milan to the memory of this genius of keen critical art research.