Mario Raggi
Italian sculptor (1821–1907)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mario Raggi (1821 – 26 November 1907) was an Italian sculptor who settled in England, where he received several public commissions for statues of civic figures.
Mario Raggi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1821 Carrara, Italy |
| Died | 26 November 1907 (aged 85–86) Farnham, England |
| Alma mater | Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara |
| Occupation | Sculptor |
| Known for | Public works, statues of civic figures |
Biography
Raggi was born in Carrara, Italy, where he learnt to sculpt, and won several prizes, at the local Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara.[1] He continued his training in Rome under Pietro Tenerani before moving in 1850 to London, where he first worked for Raffaelle Monti and then, for several years, for Matthew Noble.[1] In 1875, Raggi established his own studio in London.[2]
Raggi was given some major commissions including memorials to Benjamin Disraeli at Parliament Square and Gladstone for Albert Square, Manchester. He completed three monumental statues of Queen Victoria for Hong Kong, Toronto and Kimberley in South Africa.[3] A bronze statue by Raggi of Henry Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea, wearing a frock coat and gown stands in Swansea city centre.[4] Raggi first exhibited a work, Innocence at the Royal Academy in 1854 but did not show there again until 1878, when he exhibited a portrait bust of Admiral Rous. He continued to exhibit portrait busts at the Academy until 1895.[2]
Raggi is buried at West Norwood Cemetery, where his memorial is a flat slab.
Selected public works
| Image | Title / subject | Location and coordinates |
Date | Type | Material | Dimensions | Designation | Wikidata | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Evan Pierce memorial | Denbigh, Denbighshire | 1872 | Relief panels on pillar with statue | Bronze panels on limestone column with marble statue | 15m high | Grade II* | Panels by Raggi, column by Martin Underwood, statue by W & T Wills[5] | |
 More images |
Statue of Benjamin Disraeli | Parliament Square, London | 1883 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Grade II | Q18161998 | [5][7][8] | |
 |
Archbishop Archibald Tait Memorial | Old Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh | 1885 | Bust in niche | Bronze | Category A | [9][10] | ||
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Henry Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea | City centre, Swansea | 1886 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | 4.8m high | Grade II | Q29490036 | [5][11][12] |
 More images |
Howel Gwyn | Victoria Gardens, Neath | 1889 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | 5.5m high | Grade II | Q29490196 | [13][14] |
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Statue of Queen Victoria | Victoria Park, Hong Kong | 1896 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Q47305137 | [15][16] | ||
 |
Vulcan | Pinnacle of Sheffield Town Hall, South Yorkshire | 1897 | Statue | Bronze | [17][18] | |||
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William Ewart Gladstone | Albert Square, Manchester | 1901 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze, granite and sandstone | Grade II | Q26492263 | [5][19][20][21][22] | |
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Queen Victoria | Queen's Park, Toronto | 1903 | Statue on pedestal with bronze reliefs | Bronze and stone | Q122206391 | Commissioned 1870, unveiled 1903. Bronze reliefs by J.L. Banks.[16][3] | ||
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Statue of Sir Thomas Jackson, 1st Baronet | Statue Square, Hong Kong | 1906 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and stone | Q48802351 | |||
 |
William Crowther | Franklin Square, Hobart, Tasmania | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and stone | [2] |
