Sculpture is beautiful and tactile process. I was inspired to sculpt a whale and I had a special time creating it.
Working at the Galleria Romanelli was like a dream where the old beautiful world of history and passionate artistry was still alive, the very building where Pascuale Romanelli made his studio right at the entrance of the door to Porta San Frediano. The large entry made way to the monumental sized sculptures coming in and out of his laboratory and a small window from the top of what used to be a Church, was then turned into his private office. The Gallery downstairs now has works from Napoleonic times and commissions and pieces from the Romanelli family during its history. Raffaelo Romanelli teaches and works from the studio and the tradition and love of the craft is alive in everything you see. I was lucky to be able to work there alongside his guidance, as well as his brother Vincenzo an animal sculptor, and other artists who come to learn and work there too.
Florence may not be the centre for marine life and whales not often depicted in high Renaissance art! Though the inspiration I felt in my environment invoked a desire to create something meaningful on a personal level. I created a sculpture of a whale because I truly love these beautiful animals, and I suppose symbolically there was something I was needing to create almost a totem animal for the period of life I was in! My passion for marine life I find whales mystical and wise and pure. The depths of the seas are so fascinating and I’d love to honour its habitat.
This whale I created was about 80 cm long and standing on a base, so as to give the appearance of swimming or floating just above the surface.
The incredible part of sculpting is how many different stages there are. From the idea comes the armature and figuring out dimensions and welding a strong base and bones made of iron and scraps of metal for the clay to be able to rest upon without falling, which takes a lot of measuring. Once the armature is secured one can add the clay on and slowly but surely the form starts to take shape. Sculpture is very tactile it’s incredible how vision also interplays with the intuition of your hands to make an object. Even the subtlest indentations and shapes of the clay can express something, and continuously transforming. Once finished in clay it I created a mould with a lot of help and guidance form Raffa, and other artists in the studio. Once the mould was cast, the sculpture in clay recycled and the mould brought over to Gaetano at the Fonderia Artu in Grassina nearby, and his team at the foundry. He uses the lost wax casting method his grandfather taught him and the foundry is impressive to be in and see how everything works. Once cast, the bronze comes out shiny like gold and once the acid and patina are fired onto its surface an incredible alchemy of beautiful tones and colours appear.
As the great masters would say said, sculpture is born in clay, dies in plaster and reborn in bronze.
Fonderia Artu is one of the oldest bronze foundries of Florence. The owner, Gaetanos’ grandfather used to make the bronze sculptures for the artists of Tuscany, one of them being Pascuale Romanelli who was one of the most important sculptors in Florence. The link between the studios felt like the hands were all connected which was a powerful feeling for me, who had never experienced this kind of artistry and history before.
The colorful blue acid washes and the beauty of the metal really transformed the piece. Being one of the first pieces I made in bronze was elated to have later been accepted to the Marine Life Society of Artists competition at the Mall Galleries in London. Very excited to continue my series of marine life and to experience the transformative process of creating a sculpture!
