Rizzardo Galli

RIZZARDO GALLI (Milan, 1836-1914)
"Beggar".
Carved marble.
Signed on the base.
Presents faults.
Measurements: 72 x 24 x 24 cm.

Marble sculpture by Rizzardo Galli. It represents a young beggar who bows his head with humility while he shows the palm of his hand, although his eyes rise to be caught of the eventual passer-by and to awake his compassion. Galli manages to capture a variety of qualities in the costumes and in the kinky hair, as well as in the small bundle that rests next to the bare feet.

Rizzardo Galli was an Italian sculptor born in Milan. He was the son of the sculptor Antonio Galli (1812-1861). He trained with his father, and with Strazza and A. Tantardini. He worked for a long time, and with some credit, in Milan. In 1859, Rizzardo participated in the annual Brera Exhibition (where he returned in 1866 and 1867) exhibiting a bust (location unknown, like most of his works). In 1865 he presented in Dublin, as part of the Universal Exhibition, Fate la carità, a small marble group that was sold on that occasion. Again in Brera, in 1872 he exhibited numerous portraits and, for the Universal Exhibition of Philadelphia (1876), he sent thirteen works to the United States, some of which had as their subject matter themes already addressed by his father (Christopher Columbus, St. John the Baptist, The Devotee, Resignation). In 1877 he participated in the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Naples and in 1883 in Rome (Armonia, L'orfanella). In 1889 he created the funerary monument of the Finzi family for the Monumental Cemetery in Milan. In the family archives is also preserved a Young Girl with Flowers made in 1907 for the lawyer Amedeo Bucci. Rizzardo also had several disciples, among them C.O. Grossoni.