Date
1854
Object Type
Statue
Subject
Pellegrino Rossi
Holding institution
Accademia di Carrara
About The Work
This is the model of the statue now in the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna in Rome, created by the sculptor Pietro Tenerani (Torano, Carrara 1789 – Rome 1869), the leading Carrara sculptor of the nineteenth century and one of the most celebrated artists of the century. The artist attended the Accademia in Carrara, where he won the Roman Pensionato in 1814, and then moved to the capital to work in the studio of Thorvaldsen, where he remained until 1930. He continued his artistic production in Rome, achieving great success and receiving numerous distinguished honors. Pellegrino Rossi, a prominent Carrara constitutionalist and liberal politician, had been assassinated on 15 November 1848 while holding a government position in the Papal States, assigned to him by Pius IX for just two years. The Duke of Rignano, Mario Massimo, commissioned Tenerani to create this work for placement in his villa on the Orti Sallustiani to honor the memory of his friend. In 1864, the municipality of Carrara, intending to celebrate their fellow citizen with a monument, again turned to Tenerani, who, advanced in years, suggested producing a copy from the Duke Massimo marble, promising to send the model. The model was sent to the Accademia by Carlo Tenerani, thus fulfilling the promise of his father, who had died in December 1869. In Carrara, under the direction of Ferdinando Pelliccia, a replica was executed, enlarged for the intended outdoor placement, and subsequently installed in Piazza del Risorgimento on a pedestal adorned with two bas-reliefs, respectively by Aristide Milano and the Carrara artist Alessandro Biggi. The artist chose not to represent his fellow citizen with Neoclassical features and ancient attire; Pellegrino Rossi is portrayed in his actual appearance, wearing everyday clothing and seated at his desk. For Tenerani, this was a choice full of significance, aiming to capture the true individual essence of a man beyond the symbols of power. Another plaster model is preserved in the collection of the Gipsoteca Tenerani at Palazzo Braschi in Rome. In the plaster cast gallery of the Accademia, the following works are present: the headless plaster bozzetto; the high relief “Modello dal nudo” 1811, prize-winning at the annual competition; and the sculptures in the round “Paride offerente” 1816; “Psiche” 1818; “Psiche svenuta” 1822.
Title
PELLEGRINO ROSSI
Creator
Tenerani Pietro
Subject
Pellegrino Rossi
Object Type
Statue
Original Function
Donation.
Date
1854
Inscriptions
On the back: "23 august 1854"
Technique / Support
Chalk
Dimensions
cm 165
Acquisition
Tenerani Carlo Gift
Holding institution
Accademia di Carrara
Bibliography
RUSSO S., CAROZZI R. (a cura di), La gipsoteca dell'Accademia di belle arti di Carrara, Massa, 1996. / LAZZONI C., Carrara e le sue Ville. Carrara, 1880. / CAROZZI R., La scuola carrarese tra Canova e Bartolini, in: DE MICHELI M. (a cura di), Scultura Marmo Lavoro, Carrara, 1981. / RAGGI O., Della R. Accademia di belle arti di Carrara : memoria di Oreste Raggi per la grande esposizione di Vienna del 1873 con appendice di lettere inedite di famosi artisti e letterati suoi soci, Roma, 1873.
Conservation status
Good
Restoration history
Restauro ABAC 2010
Unique identifier
0900254696