Benvenuto Cellini

Style: Renaissance;

Place: Florence

Born: 1500

Death: 1571

Biography:

Benvenuto Cellini was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier, musician, and artist who also wrote a famous autobiography and poetry. He is remembered for his skill in making pieces such as the Cellini Salt Cellar and Perseus with the Head of Medusa. Born on November 1, 1500, in Florence, Italy, Cellini was one of the most important artists of Mannerism, a period of European art that followed the later years of the Italian High Renaissance.

Early Life and Career

Cellini's parents were Giovanni Cellini and Maria Lisabetta Granacci. They were married for eighteen years before the birth of their first child, and 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 was fifteen, his father reluctantly agreed to apprentice him to a goldsmith, Antonio di Sandro, nicknamed Marcone. At the age of sixteen, Benvenuto had already attracted attention in Florence by taking part in an affray with youthful companions.

Artistic Career

Cellini's first works in Rome were a silver casket, silver candlesticks, and a vase for the bishop of Salamanca, which won him the approval of Pope Clement VII. Another celebrated work from Rome is the gold medallion of Leda and the Swan executed for the Gonfaloniere Gabbriello Cesarino, and which is now in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence. He also took up the flute again, and was appointed one of the pope's court musicians. Some of his notable works include:

• Perseus with the Head of Medusa, a masterpiece of Renaissance art, crafted by Cellini in 1543.
• Salt Cellar, another famous work by Cellini, which is now housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria.
• Project for a seal, a drawing by Cellini, which can be found at the British Museum in London.

Legacy

Benvenuto Cellini died on February 13, 1571, and was buried with great pomp in the church of the Santissima Annunziata. He is remembered as one of the most important artists of Mannerism, and his works continue to inspire artists and art lovers alike. His autobiography and poetry are also notable contributions to the world of art and literature. To learn more about Benvenuto Cellini and his works, visit Wikioo.org, which features a collection of his paintings, including Perseus with the Head of Medusa and Salt Cellar. You can also explore the Wikipedia page dedicated to Benvenuto Cellini for more information about his life and career.