Portrait Bust of Pietro Benvenuti, marble, 71 cm, today on Benvenuti’s tomb in San Lorenzo, Florence. Probably executed by Giovanni Antonio Santarelli.

Primary sources

• The marble work took place at some point between the completion of the model in September 1823 and 8.1.1815.
• Letter dated 8.1.1815 from Benvenuti to Thorvaldsen.
• Letter dated 20.1.1825 from Benvenuti to Thorvaldsen.
• Benvenuti’s will dated 22.5.1843 (”Il mio Corpo desidero che sia tumulato nel Chiostro della Chiesa di san Lorenzo con obbligo ai miei eredi di eseguirvi apposito Sepolcro e di mettervi il mio Busto in Marmo che tengo in mia Casa è che è opera di Torvalsen.” Confirms that the bust on the tomb is a marble version of Thorvaldsen’s bust from September 1813).

Other references

• Else Kai Sass: Thorvaldsens Portrætbuster, Copenhagen 1963-65, Vol. I, p. 199-205 (Argues that the marble bust on Benvenuti’s tomb is Thorvaldsen’s work and suggests that Santarelli could have done the marble work).

Last updated 02.01.2019