Fiorenzo Giannetti, the Turin sculptor obsessed with primates
Fiorenzo Giannetti (1877-1939), a talented student of Leonardo Bistolfi at the Accademia Albertina in Turin, was forced by family poverty to abandon his studies and work as a pastry assistant, messenger, and saddler. In 1906, architect Adamo Boari summoned him to Mexico City to decorate the Palacio de Bellas Artes, where Giannetti created Carrara marble sculptures including busts of Eagle and Jaguar Warriors and a medallion of Boari's dog Aida. He stayed until 1911, absorbing Aztec art and exotic animals. Back in Turin, he studied great apes, producing animalier works like the 1921 bronze 'Natum Naturalis Amor' (a female chimpanzee hugging her cub), cast by Riva and exhibited at the 1922 Fiorentina Primaverale under the pseudonym G. Fiorentino. His works are in the GAM of Turin ('Il gorilla') and private collections. In 1925 he married Maddalena Giordano; he showed 'Gorilla-fontanella' at the 1923 Quadriennale di Torino. He died in 1939 at Ospedale Mauriziano. A posthumous solo show was held in 1946 at Galleria Martina, curated by Arrigo Frusta.
Key facts
- Fiorenzo Giannetti (1877-1939) was a student of Leonardo Bistolfi at Accademia Albertina in Turin.
- He left his studies due to family poverty, working as a pastry assistant, messenger, and saddler.
- In 1906, architect Adamo Boari called him to Mexico City to decorate the Palacio de Bellas Artes.
- He created Carrara marble sculptures including Eagle and Jaguar Warrior busts and a medallion of Boari's dog Aida.
- He stayed in Mexico until 1911, absorbing Aztec art and exotic animals.
- Back in Turin, he focused on sculpting great apes, producing animalier works.
- His bronze 'Natum Naturalis Amor' (1921) shows a female chimpanzee hugging her cub, cast by Riva and exhibited at the 1922 Fiorentina Primaverale under the name G. Fiorentino.
- His works are in GAM di Torino ('Il gorilla') and private collections.
- He married Maddalena Giordano in 1925 and showed 'Gorilla-fontanella' at the 1923 Quadriennale di Torino.
- He died in 1939 at Ospedale Mauriziano in Turin; a posthumous show was held in 1946 at Galleria Martina curated by Arrigo Frusta.
Entities
Artists
- Fiorenzo Giannetti
- Leonardo Bistolfi
- Adamo Boari
- Arrigo Frusta
Institutions
- Accademia Albertina di Torino
- Palacio de Bellas Artes
- Fiorentina Primaverale
- Riva
- GAM di Torino
- Quadriennale di Torino
- Ospedale Mauriziano
- Galleria Martina
Locations
- Turin
- Italy
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- via Bava 7
- via Modena 44
- via Po