Augusto Rivalta

19th Century
bronze with black patina
48 x 18 x 18 cm (18⅞x 7⅛x 7⅛in.)
inscribed 'Augusto Rivalta'

Augusto Rivaltawas one of the outstanding Italian sculptors of the late 19th century. Born in Alexandria, Egypt to Italianparents, he studied with Aristodemo Costoli and Giovanni Duprè in Florence and in Genoa before settling in Florence.There he became professor of sculpture at the Florentine Academy where one of his students was Pompeo Coppini.Because he took part in the Risorgimento, Rivalta was able to obtain commissions for memorials of many of its leadersincluding Garibaldi, Cavour, Ricasoli and Victor Emmanuel II. He also authored seven or eight memorials in the Staglienocemetery in Genoa where he helped pioneer the Italian Realism movement with memorials such as those for the Raggio,Drago (1884) Carpanetto (1886) and Pallavicino families.