Raffaello Romanelli (1856 – 1928) Born in Florence, Italy. Romanelli was renowned for his monuments and portrait busts of noteworthy figures. He won the Annual Price for Sculpture from the Academy in 1876, at age 20, with the Bas-Relief of Jacob and Rachel at the well. He won numerous awards and had the honor to be commissioned by Pope Augustus III for two works at the façade of the Florence Cathedral.
Around the turn of the century, at the height of his career, Romanelli had an international reputation and was regarded by many as ‘Italy’s greatest living sculptor’ (The Anglo-American Gazette, Nice, 14 March 1908).