Francesco Bracciolini

myminifactory

This bust, representing the poet Francesco Bracciolini, was skillfully crafted by the talented sculptor Giuliano Finelli. Born in Carrara, near Florence, Finelli likely sourced exceptional marble from the renowned quarries nearby for this remarkable work. He advanced his artistic training in Naples, but made a name for himself in Rome, the epicenter of Baroque sculpture and the seat of papal power. In this masterful bust, Finelli showcases his extraordinary carving skills through the intricate treatment of the sitter's flesh, fur, and textiles, as well as the sensitive handling of their piercing gaze and striking features, warts and all. The bust has been mistakenly attributed to some of his more famous contemporaries and leading sculptors in Rome, Alessandro Algardi and Gianlorenzo Bernini. Finelli was a member of Bernini's workshop, where he gained recognition for his exceptional carving skills, particularly on the masterwork Apollo and Daphne at Villa Borghese. He became highly sought-after for his portraits, which showcased his remarkable ability to capture the subtleties of human expression. The poet Francesco Bracciolini was a close friend and trusted secretary of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini (later Pope Urban VIII). Based in Rome from 1623 to 1644, he served as secretary to the Pope's brother and played a crucial role in designing the program for Pietro da Cortona's frescoed ceiling in the Palazzo Barberini. This project was inspired by Bracciolini's own poem about the election of the pope. The bust remained in the Bracciolini family home, Villa Traetti in Pistoia, where Francesco was born and passed away, until 1835. It was later acquired by the Museum in Florence in 1863, joining a collection of exceptional works of art from across Europe.