Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571)

Benvenuto Cellini, goldsmith, sculptor, soldier, musician, and arrogant rogue
[Bust of Benvenuto Cellini, sculpted by Raffaello Romanelli, 1901]
[Photographed by Thermos, Source: Wikimedia Commons]

In many ways this guy was a true renaissance man.  Though he was primarily a goldsmith, throughout his life he also worked as a sculptor, draftsman, musician, and writer.  He received steady work throughout his life from two popes, several dukes and cardinals, and the King of France.  He designed created works that others supposedly said were impossible.  He traveled widely throughout Italy and France when need or desire called him.  When Charles III, Duke of Bourbon attacked Rome, Cellini fought bravely in defense of the city and the Pope.  He was allegedly responsible for killing of both the Duke of Bourbon and the Prince of Orange, one of the duke’s major supporters, in the fighting.  He did not have good control over his temper.  On several occasions he attacked and killed people for supposedly justified reasons.

Being appointed to the Papal Mint really only inflated his ego
[Coins designed for Clement VII, Benvenuto Cellini, 1523-1534]
[Photographed by Classical Numismatic Group, Inc., Source: Wikimedia Commons]

I say “allegedly” and “supposedly” because the major source we have for a lot of this information is his own autobiography.  The thing is, this was the first surviving secular autobiography since the Roman Empire.  In other words, he had to be really arrogant to think writing this thing was a good idea.  It comes through in his work too.  The back cover of George Bull’s translation calls it “his own heroic opinion of himself.”  That’s one way of putting it.  I would argue that “he was lying through his teeth” also works.  For all of that though, it’s certainly an entertaining read.  In his mind, whatever he did was justified and nothing was ever his fault.  Anyone who wronged him was simply jealous of his great skill, which admittedly lived up to his own opinion of it.

Isn't the point not to turn one's audience to stone?
[Perseus with the head of Medusa, sculpted by Benvenuto Cellini, 1545-1554]
[Photographed by Dodo, Source: Wikimedia Commons]

He is best known for his “Perseus with the head of Medusa,” his “Saliera” (saltcellar), and his autobiography.  All three command awe, but only two of them do so for their artistry.

I've always wondered, where does the salt actually go?
[Saliera, Benvenuto Cellini, 1543]
[Photographed by Vassil, Source: Wikimedia Commons]