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Benvenuto Cellini was born in Florence, in present-day Italy. His parents were Giovanni Cellini and Maria Lisabetta Granacci. They were married for 18 years before the birth of their first child. Benvenuto was the second child of the family. The son of a musician and builder of musical instruments, Cellini was pushed towards music, but when he ...
- Italian
- Goldsmith, sculptor, author
goldwork. sculpture. Benvenuto Cellini (born Nov. 1, 1500, Florence—died Feb. 13, 1571, Florence) was a Florentine sculptor, goldsmith, and writer. He was one of the most important Mannerist artists and, because of the lively account of himself and his period in his autobiography, one of the most picturesque figures of the Renaissance.
- John Pope-Hennessy
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Order Oil Paintingreproduction. Benvenuto Cellini (Italian pronunciation: [beɱveˈnuːto tʃelˈliːni]; 3 November 1500 – 13 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier, musician, and artist who also wrote a famous autobiography and poetry. He was one of the most important artists of Mannerism.
- Italian
- Florence, Republic of Florence, Italy
- Mark Cartwright
- Life & Works. Benvenuto Cellini was born in Florence in 1500 CE, the son of a stonemason. Benvenuto's father had hoped he would also train to become a mason, perhaps to become a woodwind player, too.
- The Nymph of Fontainebleau. Commissioned by Francis I, the Nymph of Fontainebleau is a larger-than-lifesize bronze plaque showing a reclining Diana from Greek/Roman mythology.
- The Gold Salt Cellar. The finest example of Cellini's skills as a goldsmith is the salt cellar he made for Francis I, in the early 1540s CE. Made using enamel and gold set on an ebony base it has two reclining nude figures at the top.
- The Perseus Statue. Cellini's signature work is a bronze statue of Perseus, the hero from Greek mythology, made between 1545 and 1554 CE. The figure was commissioned by Cosimo I and it was an opportunity for Cellini to show that his stint abroad had not diminished his position as one of the city's foremost artists.
- Perseus with the Head of Medusa. Date Created: 1545-1554. Dimensions: 519 centimeters (204.33 inches) (including base) Location: Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence, Italy.
- Cellini Salt Cellar. Date Created: 1543. Dimensions: 26 × 33.5 centimeters (10 × 13.2 inches) Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. Cellini was equally proficient in the creation of monumental as in creating little delicate works of art.
- Nymph of Fontainebleau. Date Created: 1543. Dimensions: 205 x 409 centimeters (80.7 x 161.02 inches) Location: Louvre Museum, Paris, France. The Nymph of Fontainebleau is a huge bronze relief that is also sometimes referred to as the “Nymph of Anet” or the “Nymph with the Stag.”
- Ganymede. Date Created: 1548-1550. Dimensions: 60 centimeters (23.62 inches) Location: National Museum of Bargello, Florence, Italy. The sculpture of Ganymede depicts the son of Tros, one of the legendary kings of Troy.
Throughout Benvenuto Cellini's life, prolific periods of artistic output were often jeopardized by run-ins with the law. He was repeatedly prosecuted for sodomy, theft, and murder. Despite his notoriety, Cellini worked continuously for such august patrons as the popes in Rome, the Medici in Florence, and King François I of France.
Nov 3, 1500 - Feb 13, 1571. Benvenuto Cellini was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, and artist who also wrote poetry and a famous autobiography. He was one of the most important artists of Mannerism. He is remembered for his skill, in such pieces as the Cellini Salt Cellar and Perseus with the Head of Medusa.
