Benedetto da Rovezzano

Benedetto Grazzini, best known as Benedetto da Rovezzano (1474 – c. 1552) was an Italian architect and sculptor who worked mainly in Florence.

Portrait of Benedetto Grazzini
Panel from the sarcophagus of St. John Gualbert, Museum of San Salvi, Florence.
Relief from an altar, carved between 1517 and 1520, in the National Gallery of Art

He was born in Pistoia in 1474, and adopted the name Rovezzano from the quarter of Florence in which he lived. His most important works include:

Pope Leo X sent twelve terra cotta medallions by Rovezzano to Cardinal Wolsey. The sculptor himself went to England in 1524. Wolsey commissioned a tomb for himself, but fell from royal favour before its completion, but King Henry VIII of England ordered its completion. King Charles I of England wished to be buried in it although it remained empty until Nelson was buried in it.[1][2]

Four bronze angels designed by Rovezzano for Wolsey's tomb have come to light and were acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum.[3] Four large bronze candlesticks nearly 3 metres in height designed by Rovezzano were an addition to the tomb commissioned by King Henry VIII, and are now in the Saint Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent, having been acquired by the Bishop of Ghent Anthony Triest in the 17th century.[4][5][6]

References

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  1. ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Benedetto da Rovezzano" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  2. ^ Sturgis, Russell (1901). A Dictionary of Architecture and Building, Volume I. Macmillan. p. 291.
  3. ^ "V&A to buy Cardinal Wolsey Angels". BBC News. 8 February 2015.
  4. ^ "A Tomb fit for a King - Benedetto's candelabra for Henry VIII - The Tudor Society". www.tudorsociety.com. 2015-06-01. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  5. ^ Lyon, Brodie (2014-12-15). "Save the Wolsey Angels: The candelabrum and the sarcophagus • V&A Blog". V&A Blog. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  6. ^ da Rovezzano, Benedetto; Broeck, M. van den (1530–1536), Candelabrum, retrieved 2024-07-06
 
Candlestick designed by Rovezzano, St Bavo's Cathedral
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