Curated: Limited Edition Works by Raffaello Romanelli
Raffaello C. Romanelli, FORTUNATA, 2018; cast bronze. / All photos: Galleria Romanelli.
Florence’s famed Galleria Romanelli has employed five generations of sculptors dating back to the Napolean era (when it served as the official sculptor of the Bonaparte family). Descendant and master sculptor, Raffaello C. Romanelli has created Romanelli Originals, which focus on the study of the human figure modeled from life, according to the traditional clay observation and modeling technique of the subject. Every human being becomes a work of art and attention is placed on the study of anatomy, giving movement and dynamism to the works created. The limited edition works are reproduced in a limited series of six, four copies (numbered with Roman numbers) and two copies by the artist – all signed by Raffaello.
Romanelli Original Sculptures currently include:
FORTUNATA - This bronze sculpture was handcrafted by Raffaello in 2018. This powerfully evocative piece portraits the bust of a blindfold woman, who remembers the goddess of Fortune, an important deity of the ancient Romans represented, precisely, with a blindfold covering her eyes.
TORSO DI FAUNA E FAUNO - Both works were made in bronze and are original pieces, in a limited edition, designed by Raffaello. The figures, which can also be purchased separately, have been modeled live. The sinuous lines and the study of anatomy give movement to the figures guiding the reading of the works in the round. The famous Gaddi Torso exhibited at the Uffizi was a source of inspiration for Raffaello, who gave a personal interpretation of it during the clay modeling of the male torso.
IRATI - This bronze sculpture, modeled from life, is an original piece created in 2004 by Raffaello. The pose represent a moment of internal reflection in which the body, picked up on itself, reveals the inner search.
If you’re desirous to have your likeness, or that of a loved one, immortalized, Raffaello and his team, which includes his younger brother Vincenzo, can create commissioned portraits in cast bronze, marble or plaster. As well, they host sculpture courses and workshops in their Oltrarno District studio, and the art gallery can be rented for private events. For pricing and to learn more, visit: https://www.raffaelloromanelli.com/en/
About Raffaello C. Romanelli
The human figure is the nucleus of Raffaello’s work and the natural proportions of the human body are a continual source of inspiration for him. Each piece owes its beautiful form to his pursuit of realistic representation. His forte is portraiture: he is meticulous about modelling from life which enables him to capture the facial form, a myriad of expressions and consequently the personality of his subject. This is the secret behind the expressive nature of his works. Raffaello has always had a special affinity with art, he nourished his eyes with the examples of his ancestors and breathed the air of a studio as a child, in contact with the sculptors whose ideas and knowledge he gathered. He went on to undertake classical training from Charles H. Cecil in Florence, where he mastered the technique of drawing and sculpting from life. Today the ancient family studio at Borgo San Frediano is under his care, a place of work and inspiration. Here he gives life to his personal projects and receives his international clients. His works ranging from bronze limited editions to being carved by hand out of marble. Today he teaches courses of sculpture allowing a continuity of the technique and knowledge acquired in the family and in his experiences allowing the aspiring sculptors to learn the skills necessary for the creation of a work.
— Christina Spearman