Mario Raggi
Born1821
Carrara, Italy
Died26 November 1907(1907-11-26) (aged 85–86)
Farnham, England
NationalityBritish/ Italian
Alma materAccademia di Belle Arti di Carrara
Known forSculpture

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.

Biography

Raggi was born at 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 to London in 1850 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 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]

[6]


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]

More images 		Henry Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea City centre, Swansea 1886 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite 4.8m high [5][11]

More images 		Howel Gwyn Victoria Gardens, Neath 1889 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite 5.5m high [12]

More images 		Statue of Queen Victoria Victoria Park, Hong Kong 1896 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite Q47305137 [13][14]
Vulcan Pinnacle of Sheffield Town Hall, South Yorkshire 1897 Statue Bronze [15][16]

More images 		William Ewart Gladstone Albert Square, Manchester 1901 Statue on pedestal Bronze, granite and sandstone Grade II Q26492263 [5][17][18][19][20]

More images 		Queen Victoria Queen's Park, Toronto 1903 Statue on pedestal with bronze reliefs Bronze and stone Commissioned 1870, unveiled 1903. Bronze reliefs by J.L. Banks.[14][3]

More images 		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]

References

  1. ^ a b S.E. Fryer, revised C. Whitehead (23 September 2004). "Raggi, Mario". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/35649. Retrieved 18 February 2021. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c Lee, Sidney, ed. (1912). "Raggi, Mario" . Dictionary of National Biography (2nd supplement). Vol. 3. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  3. ^ a b "Monument to Queen Victoria". Yale Center for British Art. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  4. ^ Newman, John; Hughes, Stephen R.; Ward, Anthony (1995). Glamorgan: (Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and West Glamorgan). Penguin Books; University of Wales Press. p. 601. ISBN 978-0-14-071056-4.
  5. ^ a b c d Jo Darke (1991). The Monument Guide to England and Wales. Macdonald Illustrated. ISBN 0 356 17609 6.
  6. ^ Cadw. "Pierce's Memorial (1049)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield (1226370)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Statue of Benjamin Disraeli". The Courtauld Institute of Art. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Edinburgh, Teviot Place, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, New Building". Canmore. RCAHMS. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  10. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "University of Edinburgh, New Building, including Boundary Walls, 22-23 Teviot Place, Edinburgh (Category A Listed Building) (LB27992)". Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Core Record: Statue of Sir Henry Hussey Vivian". vads. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Core Record: Statue of Howel Gwyn". vads. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Statue of Queen Victoria". Yale Center for British Art. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  14. ^ a b Martina Droth, Jason Edwards & Michael Hatt (2014). Sculpture Victorious: Art in the Age of Invention, 1837-1901. Yale Center for British Art, Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300208030.
  15. ^ "Vulcan, 1897". Public Art in Sheffield, Public Art Research Archive, Sheffield Hallam University. 5 September 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Raggi, Mario". Benezit Dictionary of Artists. 31 October 2011. doi:10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.B00148243. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  17. ^ Historic England. "Gladstone statue (1197823)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Core Record: William Gladstone". vads. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  19. ^ A User's Guide to Public Sculpture. English Heritage / PMSA. 2000. ISBN 185074776-8.
  20. ^ "Statue of W.E Gladstone". The Courtauld Institute of Art. Retrieved 12 December 2022.

External links

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