Michelangelo Pergolesi was an 18th century Italian decorative artist who worked mainly in England. He was attracted to England by Robert Adam after his famous continental tour. Most of Pergolesi’s works were influenced by Robert Adam since he worked extensively for him and even his designs were so closely related to those of Adam. He designed mantelpieces, furniture, ceilings, doors chandeliers and mural ornaments with felicity. Michelangelo delighted in sphinxes and urns and interlaced gryphons, in martial arts weapons, in amorini with torches and bows, and in flowering arabesques which he sometimes made thin but were always graceful. The centre panels of his ceilings and wall were often occupied by pastoral and classical subjects painted by Angelica Kauffman, Antonio Zucchi (Angelica’s husband), or Cipriani, and sometimes by himself.
Michelangelo apparently executed some of the painted work on his own. Many of the pieces that are attributed to him are remarkable examples of technical skill and artistic taste. His side-tables, china cabinets and satinwood table-tops are the last word in a daintiness which perhaps is mere prettiness. Many of Michelangelo’s patterns are instinctively attributed to Adam by purchasers and makers of modern reproductions. Furthermore, there is reason to believe that he aided Adam’s firm in architectural work.
His works have been exhibited in several countries all over the world, and his original works can be found in many collections. Michelangelo had many exhibitions, some of which he did in groups while in others he went solo. He also had some media and publications. For example, he wrote "Designs for Various Ornaments on Seventy Plates", which was published between 1777 and 1801.
