Pride Does Not Sell Paintings

Tommaso Juglaris
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Juglaris in Europe
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Pride Does Not Sell Paintings

‘Listen, Mr. Juglaris, we know very well that you need to sell, but you are so proud and haughty that your paintings are left aside. If you were more humble, more compliant, you would obtain something.’ I replied that the king or prince who would receive a supplication from me had not yet been born and, as for the others, rather than lowering myself I would rather have gone to sweep the streets."

Angel Musicians, a sketch by Tommaso Juglaris

Portrait of a Young Boy by Juglaris — Portrait of a Young Boy
by Juglaris

As a muralist, Juglaris was constantly improving his skills in drawing the human figure. He applied his growing flair in this realm to a series of easel paintings that were successfully exhibited at Turin’s Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts (Societa Promotrice delle Belle Arti), which welcomed emerging artists to its salon at the Palazzo di Carlo Creppi. Admission soon followed to Turin’s elite Artists’ Circle (Circolo degli Artisti). He was jointly nominated by artists Rodolfo Morgari and Giovanni Zuliani, the latter a dear and loyal friend. As an entry requirement above and beyond the annual dues of sixty lire, Juglaris submitted a painting entitled The Friar and the Gentleman (1870), intended to display and substantiate his competence, if not virtuosity, as an artist. Today, it remains a part of the Artists’ Circle permanent collection.

However gratifying, official recognition as a fine artist did not sell paintings for Juglaris. In posture and personality he could be proud and prickly, intense and easily offended. This was not a winning way for a young artist who needed patrons and commissions to thrive in the fine arts. When Juglaris complained about his difficulties to the secretary of the Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts, he did not receive much sympathy. He was informed in no uncertain terms that he needed to be “more humble, more compliant” in order to gain patronage, even to the point of begging the support of a royal prince or a wealthy member of the Artists’ Circle. Yet once again Juglaris refused to humble himself in the position of a supplicant.

Although Juglaris never had to “sweep the streets” as he vowed to do rather than to toady to patrons, he remained mostly reliant on decorative commissions and mural work for his livelihood. These were projects more readily secured on the basis of his talent and ability without so readily compromising his sense of personal dignity and self-esteem.

Turin’s Circle of Artists

Bogorama at Gran Bogo, Turin, 1869, with photograph by Pietro Fernando Giani

Turin’s prestigious Artists’ Circle was founded in March 1847 by Turinese attorney Luigi Rocca to promote the fine arts and letters. Painters, sculptors, architects, journalists, writers, poets, and musicians were all invited to join. In 1855 the organization officially assumed its present name. However, it was not until 1858 that the Artist's Circle found a permanent home at the Palazzo Graneri della Roccia on the Via Bognio. Built in 1702, the palazzo’s elegantly furnished rooms provided space for an art gallery and hosted many grand balls and receptions, attracting not only princes but also working artists.

On an annual basis members of the Artists’ Circle organized a city-wide charity event known as the Gran Bogo. Proceeds were used to assist the poor. Although conscious of the irony of such charity work in light of his own poverty, Juglaris nevertheless volunteered almost a month of his own time to help transform the Palazzo Graneri into a series of elaborate, exotic grottos, or to create prizes for those joining in the festivities. On behalf of the Gran Bogo, Juglaris crafted for prizes everything from painted fans to figurines. In later years, Juglaris looked back happily on his association with the Artists’ Circle. As a member in good standing, he enjoyed meeting and socializing at the Palazzo Graneri with many artist-friends.