Biography

After a colourful early career which took him to Paris as a drummer in Napoleon’s army, Bartolini settled in Florence in 1815. Bartolini was the leading Italian sculptor after the death of Canova in 1822, his position eclipsed only by that of the Dane Bertel Thorvaldsen in Rome, who died in 1838. Bartolini is best known for his lively portrait busts, and was much patronised by visiting tourists, who were pleasantly surprised by the relatively modest prices he charged. The contents of Bartolini’s studio (gipsoteca), including the full scale model for ‘The Campbell Sisters’ group (NG 2876), belong to the Galleria dell’ Accademia in Florence.