Pietro Canonica

Pietro Canonica was an Italian sculptor who entered the Albertina Academy in Torino when he was 12-years-old and was educated by Odoardo Tabacchi. He lived and worked mainly in Roma in a wing of a building in a park of the Villa Borghese called “La Fortezzuola”, where he eventually died. This Roman house was donated to him by the Municipality and now houses the Canonica Museum with many of his main works. He also maintained houses in Vetrella (Viterbo) and Venezia.

After a promising debut at the age of 17, Canonica made study trips to Roma and Firenze, retaining the impression of realistic classical and Renaissance art. In 1892-93 he was appointed a member of the commission for the monument to King Vittorio Emanuele II in Roma. In this same period, he created numerous funerary monuments in marble and bronze. Canonica is also remembered for his musical activity composing chamber music and musical melodramas. In 1929 he was nominated by Mussolini personally as a member of the fascist Academy of Italy. After World War II, Canonica was nominated senator for life for his artistic achievements in 1950, and in 1958 he presided over the Assembly as provisional president.