Raffaello Romanelli

Raffaello Romanelli (13 May 1856 – 3 April 1928) was an Italian sculptor, born in Florence, Italy.

The son of Florentine sculptor Pasquale Romanelli, Raffaello is fore-mostly known for his monuments and portrait busts dedicated to noteworthy figures. He worked around the globe in America, Argentina, Austria, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Italy, Romania and Russia. Raffaello worked from two studios both located in the ‘Oltrarno’ district in Florence, initially from the family studio in Borgo San Frediano and then from a new one in Piazza Santo Spirito. Both studios were former churches: after being deconsecrated, they were converted into sculpture studios to make use of the ample space provided by the high ceilings. The atelier in Borgo San Frediano still houses the Romanelli Sculpture Studio and Gallery, an active studio with Raffaello’s portraiture legacy being continued by his great-great-grandchildren.

Born in Florence on May 13, 1856 to Pasquale Romanelli and his wife Elisa a descendant of Francesco Ferruccio, daughter of Vincenzo Mangoni, he was the fourth born of six children. From an early age Raffaello could be found in his father’s studio, where he acquired the first skills of draughtsmanship. His first official work was the hand of Lorenzo Bartolini in marble, gifted to the Russian Princess Olga Orloff, a family friend of his parents.

It was Italian custom from mid- July to September to go to the hills or to the sea to avoid the summer heat in the cities. Raffaello’s family spent their summers at Viareggio and here as a young boy Raffaello developed a longing to spend his life in the Navy. As an official Naval school did not yet exist, Pasquale paid a large sum to the captain of a frigate to have his son taken on board and to take care of him while sailing. Raffaello was fourteen at that time. After a few months Raffaello returned having matured and now made-up his mind to enrol himself at the Florence Academy. There he studied under Professor Augusto Rivalta and Emilio Zocchi. Whilst at the Academy, he also continued to learn the skills of working marble in his father’s studio. He had a rebellious spirit which at times made his professor’s task rather difficult but concurrently he was extremely gifted and creative which earned him the silver medal for best in class along with the prize money which accompanied the award. His contemporaries at the school included Vittorio Matteo Corcos, later renowned portraitist, who was participating in painting classes, and sculptor Gaetano Trentanove, attending sculpture classes.

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