Biography of Benvenuto Cellini

3 November 1500
13 February 1571
Benvenuto Cellini was born on 3 November 1500 in Florence, the second son of Maria Lisabetta Granacci and John, Builder of musical instruments. From an early age is directed by the father towards the career of a musician, with satisfactory results: Welcome, in fact, proves to be quite talented in both singing with the flute. At the age of fourteen, in any case, is sent to work in the workshop of the sculptor Baccio Bandinelli Michelangelo Brandini, father; the following year he moved to the workshop of a goldsmith. At only sixteen, however, he is forced to leave Florence after being involved in a fight along with his brother sniper. After studying in Bologna and Pisa, master-among others-the Goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini 's Cloister, Ulivieri is starring in another fight, which forced him to seek refuge in Siena and Rome: here, barely twenty years old, he started working in the workshop of Giovanni de ' Georgis. Afterwards-is the 1524-opened his own shop, where he came into contact with several artists and goldsmiths are manufacturing various works. In 1527 he took part, during the sack of Rome, the defence of Pope Clement VII and Castel Sant'Angelo, contributing to the killing-with a blunderbuss-Commander Charles III of Bourbon.
Later, he moved to Mantua, where he engaged in creating works for components of the Gonzaga family. At 1528 dates, for example, the "seal of Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga", in silver. In 1529 is recalled to Rome by Pope Clement VII, who appointed him official printer of the Papal Mint; at the same time, faces the death of brother sniper, killed after he became a soldier of fortune. Removed from the role of printer from 1533, Benvenuto Cellini is moved away even from the dealer (i.e. of the Pope's escort soldier), probably because of the rumors put into circulation by Pompeo de ' Capitaneis, another Goldsmith of Rome. Cellini kills Pompey, fearful of the possibility that he might attack him after the death of Clement VII; is, in any case, acquitted by the new Pope, Paul III. Must come to terms, however, the Pope's son, Pier Luigi Farnese: come to the point of fearing for his own safety, run in Florence, where she got to work at the Court of Alessandro de ' Medici. Meanwhile realizes the "Medal of Clement VII", 4 centimeters in diameter in silver gilt, and carves "Testone from forty money of Alessandro de ' Medici".
Back in Rome, should again flee in 1537: takes refuge, then, in Padua, working for a short time in the service of Cardinal Pietro Bembo, before reaching the Court of Francis I in France, where he completed some bronze medals dedicated to the King; In France, however, remains mostly inactive, and not getting any type of task choose to come back to Rome. Here, though, is accused of having made the protagonist, during the sack of some burglaries, and was imprisoned in Castel Sant'Angelo. Remained for a long time in prison because of disagreements with the Pope, escapes in France, back to the Court of King Francis: it is on this occasion that creates one of his most famous works of goldsmith, the salt shaker that represents the sea and land, in ebony, gold and enamel. In 1545 the "Greyhound" in bronze and the beginning of the preparation of the "bust of Cosimo I de ' Medici" in bronze. In 1549, Benvenuto Cellini begins to carve the marble bust of Cosimo I "", while a few years later concluded the "Perseus beheading Medusa" in bronze currently housed in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence.
Always in these years are also "Ganymede", "Apollo and hyacinth" and "Narcissus", all in marble, in addition to "bust of Bindo Altoviti" in bronze. In 1550 Cellini realizes the "Flask" (iron damascened in gold and silver) and starts the processing of "secret stash" wrench, carved, chiseled and lace pattern from a single block. During this period, terminated by a model, he faces a trial in which he is accused of sodomy: in 1557 was sentenced to four years in prison, which are then switched in four years under house arrest. At this time, carve among other things the "crucifix" currently on display at the Escorial in Madrid. Thanks to the deprivation of liberty, which limits him in body and mind, Cellini returned to Florence-also because of the antipathy shown toward him by Madame d'etampes-and he was elected Academician in the Academy of Arts and Design Company founded by Cosimo I de ' Medici in 1563. Meanwhile, he wrote his autobiography, titled "Welcome to Life master Giovanni Cellini fiorentino, written for himself, in Florence", which is completed in 1566: a masterpiece of fiction both for the variety of the episodes that we are told, both for the many inventions from the point of view of language. In the same years he completes two other literary works: a "Treaty of the Goldsmiths' and a 'Treaty of sculpture". Benvenuto Cellini died on 13 February 1571 in Florence: will always be remembered as one of the most celebrated exponents of Mannerism. Three centuries later, the French composer Hector Berlioz will dedicate an opera semiseria entitled "Benvenuto Cellini" (1838).
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.