Romano Romanelli
Encyclopedia
Romano Romanelli was an Italian sculptor.
Romanelli was born in Florence
, the son of sculptor Raffaello Romanelli
, who created works such as the "Monument to Garibaldi" (1895) for Siena
, in a vigorously impressionistic 'verist
' style. His grandfather Pasquale Romanelli was also a sculptor, and collaborator with Lorenzo Bartolini
.
Romanelli created both large scale works and small pieces of around 60 centimeters. He was named an Accademico d’Italia
in 1930. His works include a bronze crucifix for the 1934 Crypt for the Fallen at Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli
, Rome
.
After World War II, Romanelli's workshop was involved in the creation of the historical friezes for the Voortrekker Monument
in South Africa
. The design was created by four South African sculptors Hennie Potgieter, Laurika Postma, Frikkie Kruger and Peter Kirchhoff who spent five years creating plaster of paris panels. These were sent to Florence where Romanelli had a large studio with machinery and technical equipment. He directed 50 chisellers replicating the plaster of paris designs in Quercetta marble.
Romanelli was seduced by Isadora Duncan
to become father of her third child born in 1914, a son who only survived for a few hours. In 1925 Romanelli married Dorothea Hayter, daughter of Rev. William Thomas Baring Hayter
. He had created a sculpture of his future wife in 1917. They had three children - a son, Raffaello Romanelli (named after his more famous grandfather), who was also a sculptor, and two daughters.
Romanelli was born in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, the son of sculptor Raffaello Romanelli
Raffaello Romanelli
Raffaello Romanelli was an Italian sculptor, born in Florence, Italy. His work includes many public monuments in honour of eminent Italians and others....
, who created works such as the "Monument to Garibaldi" (1895) for Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, in a vigorously impressionistic 'verist
Verismo
Verismo was an Italian literary movement which peaked between approximately 1875 and the early 1900s....
' style. His grandfather Pasquale Romanelli was also a sculptor, and collaborator with Lorenzo Bartolini
Lorenzo Bartolini
Lorenzo Bartolini was an Italian sculptor who infused his neoclassicism with a strain of sentimental piety and naturalistic detail which led him furthermore in the future, while he drew inspiration from the sculpture of the Florentine Renaissance rather than the overpowering influence of Antonio...
.
Romanelli created both large scale works and small pieces of around 60 centimeters. He was named an Accademico d’Italia
Accademia dei Lincei
The Accademia dei Lincei, , is an Italian science academy, located at the Palazzo Corsini on the Via della Lungara in Rome, Italy....
in 1930. His works include a bronze crucifix for the 1934 Crypt for the Fallen at Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli
Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli
Santa Caterina a Magnanapoli is a 16th century church in Rome. It is devoted to St. Catherine of Siena, and is located on the Quirinal Hill, in piazza Magnanapoli.-History:...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
After World War II, Romanelli's workshop was involved in the creation of the historical friezes for the Voortrekker Monument
Voortrekker Monument
The Voortrekker Monument is a monument in the city of Pretoria, South Africa. The massive granite structure, built to honour the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854, was designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk who had the idea to design a "monument that would stand a...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The design was created by four South African sculptors Hennie Potgieter, Laurika Postma, Frikkie Kruger and Peter Kirchhoff who spent five years creating plaster of paris panels. These were sent to Florence where Romanelli had a large studio with machinery and technical equipment. He directed 50 chisellers replicating the plaster of paris designs in Quercetta marble.
Romanelli was seduced by Isadora Duncan
Isadora Duncan
Isadora Duncan was a dancer, considered by many to be the creator of modern dance. Born in the United States, she lived in Western Europe and the Soviet Union from the age of 22 until her death at age 50. In the United States she was popular only in New York, and only later in her life...
to become father of her third child born in 1914, a son who only survived for a few hours. In 1925 Romanelli married Dorothea Hayter, daughter of Rev. William Thomas Baring Hayter
William Thomas Baring Hayter
The Very Rev William Thomas Baring Hayter was an eminent Anglican Priest and teacher in the first decades of the 20th Century....
. He had created a sculpture of his future wife in 1917. They had three children - a son, Raffaello Romanelli (named after his more famous grandfather), who was also a sculptor, and two daughters.
Selected works
- Il Portatore d'acqua 1912
- Miss Dorothy Hayter 1917
- Eva, 1919
- Lo Scultore
- Giano e la vergine, 1930
- Hercules with the lion
- The Boxer