Mario Raggi
Italian sculptor
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 public 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
Grade II
Q29490036
[ 5] [ 11] [ 12]
More images
Howel Gwyn
Victoria Gardens, Neath
1889
Statue on pedestal
Bronze and granite
5.5m high
Grade II
Q29490196
[ 13] [ 14]
More images
Statue of Queen Victoria
Victoria Park , Hong Kong
1896
Statue on pedestal
Bronze and granite
Q47305137
[ 15] [ 16]
Vulcan
Pinnacle of Sheffield Town Hall , South Yorkshire
1897
Statue
Bronze
[ 17] [ 18]
More images
William Ewart Gladstone
Albert Square, Manchester
1901
Statue on pedestal
Bronze, granite and sandstone
Grade II
Q26492263
[ 5] [ 19] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22]
More images
Queen Victoria
Queen's Park, Toronto
1903
Statue on pedestal with bronze reliefs
Bronze and stone
Q122206391
Commissioned 1870, unveiled 1903. Bronze reliefs by J.L. Banks.[ 16] [ 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
^ 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.)
^ a b c Lee, Sidney , ed. (1912). "Raggi, Mario" . Dictionary of National Biography (2nd supplement) . Vol. 3. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
^ a b "Monument to Queen Victoria" . Yale Center for British Art . Retrieved 6 August 2020 .
^ 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 .
^ a b c d Jo Darke (1991). The Monument Guide to England and Wales . Macdonald Illustrated. ISBN 0 356 17609 6 .
^ Cadw . "Pierce's Memorial (1049)" . National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 18 February 2021 .
^ Historic England . "Statue of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield (1226370)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 August 2020 .
^ "Statue of Benjamin Disraeli" . The Courtauld Institute of Art . Retrieved 12 December 2022 .
^ "Edinburgh, Teviot Place, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, New Building" . Canmore . RCAHMS. Retrieved 24 January 2021 .
^ 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 .
^ "Core Record: Statue of Sir Henry Hussey Vivian" . vads . Retrieved 6 August 2020 .
^ Cadw . "Pedestal & Statue of Sir H. Hussey Vivian (11634)" . National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 17 May 2024 .
^ "Core Record: Statue of Howel Gwyn" . vads . Retrieved 5 August 2020 .
^ Cadw . "Pedestal & Bronze Statue of Howell Gwyn (11634)" . National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 17 May 2024 .
^ "Statue of Queen Victoria" . Yale Center for British Art . Retrieved 6 August 2020 .
^ 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 .
^ "Vulcan, 1897" . Public Art in Sheffield, Public Art Research Archive, Sheffield Hallam University . 5 September 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2021 .
^ "Raggi, Mario" . Benezit Dictionary of Artists . 31 October 2011. doi :10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.B00148243 . Retrieved 18 February 2021 .
^ Historic England . "Gladstone statue (1197823)" . National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 5 August 2020 .
^ "Core Record: William Gladstone" . vads . Retrieved 5 August 2020 .
^ A User's Guide to Public Sculpture . English Heritage / PMSA. 2000. ISBN 185074776-8 .
^ "Statue of W.E Gladstone" . The Courtauld Institute of Art . Retrieved 12 December 2022 .
External links