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A TEACHER OF THE SILVER Mannerist work: "SALIERA" Benvenuto Cellini
Among the great goldsmith and sculptor of Mannerism, that is, the crisis of the classical model patented in the final stage of the Renaissance, the exciting excels figure Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571).
Multifaceted artist Florentine origin, violent, impulsive and quarrelsome nature, s or life could not be more adventurous. It passed between love and art sets and disputes that ended with some other wounded and even killed.
He has left an incredible story of his adventures and misadventures-and artistic-not only in his book "Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini or Life written by himself."
His egocentric character like precie- good artist that shows the conflict between virtue and luck or fortune, one of the themes characteristic of Renaissance culture. His autobiography is vital to know the Renaissance and the Italian and French society of his time text.
His egocentric character like precie- good artist that shows the conflict between virtue and luck or fortune, one of the themes characteristic of Renaissance culture. His autobiography is vital to know the Renaissance and the Italian and French society of his time text.
Pope Clement VII, Cosimo I de 'Medici, for whom he made the famousPerseus and King Francis I of France were the main patrons.
Are inevitable parallels with Caravaggio, although very different era and art ...
There is no doubt that his masterpiece was the "out" or salt-pepper it made to the French king Francis I at Fontainebleau.
Dated circa 1540-1543, 26 cm high, responds to very common in the sumptuous banquets of kings and Renaissance patron type of "table monument".
It is preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (Austria).
It is preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (Austria).
This marvel of virtuosity in gold, ebony and enamel, symbolizes the union between the Earth and Water, so have the two main figures legs entwined, as described by the author himself in his autobiography.
The female figure representing Tellus, ground pepper producer divinity. It will sit on a cushion with the fleur de lis, a tribute to the principal French king's work.
The male figure is clearly Poseidon (Greek mythology) and Neptune (Roman mythology), who appears with his speaker symbol, the trident and also seahorses, three dolphins and a turtle.
Allegorical figures of this exceptional piece clearly show the influence of Michelangelo Buonaorroti and we refer to their Medici tombs in Florence. It also keeps similarities with bodies Mannerist sculptural production of Spanish artist Alonso Berruguete.
The outer face of the base is made of ebony and shows various ornamental motifs on sea and land. Here we see the allegory of "tomorrow":
This allegorical figurine represents "the day":
Pepper shakers shaped Ionic temple of classical resonances. Around him they appear the figures of Hercules and Abundance:
Detail salt itself shaped boat surrounded by dolphins:
Detail of an allegorical figure representing the "sunset".
Detail figurehead of the boat:
This extraordinary piece was stolen from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in 2003 and was restored in 2006. On this bizarre theft, see this link . And on the restoration of this work, here.
Cellini has been a source of inspiration for numerous artists, sculptors, musicians or writers like the great science-fiction novelist Lois McMaster Bujold who in his work "The spirit ring" (1992) is inspired by the Florentine sculptor and goldsmith.
There is a call Berlioz opera "Benvenuto Cellini", here is an excerpt:
There are several film versions of this artist, the last call "Benvenuto Cellini. A scellerata vita" with music of great Franco Battiato (1990).
