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Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571)

Universal genius, thief and murderer

Cellini can surely be described as one of the all-round geniuses of the Renaissance. He created outstanding pieces as a sculptor, goldsmith and medal minter as well as a writer and musician.

At the same time he is a typical man of his time, which is one marked by wars, atrocities and murder. And this will also define Cellini’s life. Raised in Florence, his father wants to make a musician of him. But Benvenuto takes up a goldsmith’s apprenticeship at the age of 14 and runs away when his father comes to bring him back.

In 1516 he is already banned from Florence for 6 months because of a brawl. His part in the Sack of Rome by Charles V’s troops is also worth mentioning. The German, Spanish and Italian mercenaries, who have not been paid in months and rebel against their leaders, plunder Rome for 3 days. Cellini prides himself on having shot the Duke of Bourbon, leader of the mercenaries, but misappropriates part of the riches he is supposed to have saved.

His brother Francesco, a soldier in Rome, is shot in the street. Cellini’s subsequent killing of his brother’s murderer is punished by a “grim, sideways glance” from the Pope.

Cellini’s success in the service of the Pope makes him arrogant and belligerent – this leads to another attempted murder of one of his rivals. He is persecuted and flees to Naples. And so it goes on. Cellini admits to committing 3 murders. He frequently appears in court and once he is even sentenced to death. Apart from crimes of assault Cellini also appears in court several times for theft and homosexual practices.

Alongside the Saliera in Vienna, it is worth mentioning his bronze statue of Perseus with the Head of Medusa in Florence. Particularly the body of the decapitated Medusa, with blood spurting from her throat. Another significant object can be found in the church of El Escorial near Madrid – a life-size marble crucifix created by Cellini in his final years for his own tomb. Since it shows Christ naked, it was covered with a linen cloth and decorated with a crown of thorns.

In 1557 Cellini started to write his autobiography, which was published in German by Wolfgang von Goethe under the title Leben des Benvenuto Cellini in 1798. His version however is very loosely translated with many omissions.

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