Jacopo AMIGONI
Italian 1682-1752
Portrait group: The singer Farinelli and friends
c.1750-52
oil on canvas
172.8 x 245.1 cm
Felton Bequest 1950
2226-4

Carlo Broschi Farinelli (1705-1782) was the most famous and popular singer of his day. He was a castrato with a voice of dazzling range and flexibility.

The group in this painting includes, from left to right: the poet and writer Abate Metastasio, the soprano Teresa Castellini, who appeared on stage with Farinelli, Farinelli himself, the painter Amigoni, the castrato's dog and the castrato's pageboy.

The lyrics of the canzonetta, held by the two singers, are by Metastasio and were set to music by Farinelli. The portrait was painted in Madrid where Farinelli was in the service of Ferdinand VI of Spain, who bestowed upon him the Order of Calatrava, which adorns his fine costume.