Raffaello Romanelli s.r.l.
Established 1860
Scupltors
Antiquarians
Exporters
L.no Acciaioli 72/78r
Florence
ITALY
Ph.
+39 055-2396662
Fax.
+39 055-2396047
Lungarno Acciaioli 72/78r - Florence (Italy)
Ph. +39 055-2396662 Fax. +39 055-2396047
e-mail: raroart@raffaelloromanelli.191.it
The Romanelli
Gallery was founded in 1860
in sight of the Ponte Vecchio.
The Romanelli
family, who has managed the Gallery for now four
generation, has taken care of its inherited
tradition, ensuring the continuing realization of
great works of sculpture in marble, from the
small to the monumental. Bronzes, cast in the
traditional Lost Wax Method using models of
esteemed beauty; objects such as obelisks, vases,
columns, fireplaces, fountains are all reproduced
respecting traditional forms and harmonies of
proportion from the past. New designs too are
executed always in the search for elegance. The Gallery has a vast array of sculptures in marble and bronze, besides there being columns and small objects in marble and semi-preciuos stones; tables in Scagliola and in mosaics of semi-precious stones. An important part of the Romanelli tradition has been the ability to satisfy the specific demands of its clients, whether they be orders for tables, sculptures, fountains, or bronzes; all work executed by selected, able artists and artisans. 
|
In the past, the
first to request copies of famous antique
statues, and those of contemporary artists, such
as Canova, was Elisa Bonaparte, who had a
flowering trade between Carrara and Paris.
Carrara was an international market wich supplied
England, Russia and other countries; the demands
of the Tsarist princes and the English
aristocracy seemed to have no limits. It was not long before Florence took the place of Carrara. In the city of Florence, famous for its art, 
flourished a
school of sculptors who opened galleries, upon
which they bestowed their names. Often a brother
busied himself with the running of the commercial
side of the gallery, receiving commissions for
what were either original works (portraits,
monuments etc...) or copies of known pieces. One
of these firms was founded in 1860 by Pasquale
Romanelli, an ancestor of the present
family-owners, and apprentice to the great
Bartolini.The luck of these sculptors lasted until the great crisis of 1929 which spelt the end for this activity, leaving only two or three survivors, who staggered along until the Second World War. In 1949 however Romanelli re-opened the business, starting with little space, and few statues. After a few years the Gallery returned to its fluorishing state, and together with its studio in Florence, regained its fame. Italian, French, English and American journalists wrote articles on the Gallery for newspapers such as "The New York Times", and columns were published in home-furnishing and travel magazines. Today the Gallery is still under the management of Folco Romanelli, being a sculptor himself, have the unique and inherited ability of choosing the most suitable sculptors for their studio in Pietrasanta, close to Carrara. Some of the original models remain at the Florentine studio, which unfortunately had to close, but most were moved to the work-shop at Pietrasanta. |
