Rinaldo Rinaldi

Place: Padua

Born: 1793

Death: 1873

Biography:

Rinaldo Rinaldi was an Italian sculptor born in Padua in 1793. He learned the trade of wood carving from his father at the age of eight and began carving in stone by the age of 14. He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice under Leopoldo Cicognara and Matteini. In 1812, he received a stipend to work in Rome, where he became a pupil of Canova. After the death of his master, Rinaldi attempted to occupy the same studio Canova had used for 30 years. He joined the municipal council of the brief Roman Republic in 1849 and was briefly jailed after the papal restoration. He completed the Monument to Pietro Fortunato Calvi, one of the Belfiore martyrs, unveiled in 1872 in Noale near the tower of the Clock Tower. He became dean of the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. He became Honorary member of the Accademia di Belle Arti of Venice in 1823, of the academy in Rome in 1823, and the Virtuosi del Panteon in 1832, of the Academy of Fine Arts of Philadelphia in 1863. Pius IX decorated him with the Order of St Gregory and King Vittorio Emanuele II knighted him as cavalier of the Order of the Crown of Italy. He died in Rome in 1873.