Benivieni

19th century · Bust · 34.3 × 20.3 cm

Can I see it?

Not on view at present

Where is “Benivieni” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 15 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the sculpture

This is a plaster bust model made as a forgery by Giovanni Bastianini in the 19th century Florence, Italy. The bust, in the style of the 15th century, was the original model for the bust in terracotta representing the poet Girolamo Benivieni (1453-1542). It is possible that the sitter was a Giuseppe Buonaiuti, an operative in a tobacco factory who was chosen on account of his resemblance to an engraving of Benivieni in Allegrini.

Giovanni Bastianini (1830 – 1868) was an Italian sculptor who started as a stonecutter in the quarries at Fiesole. Bastianini's name became famous in relation to his skillfull art forgery.

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Bastianini loved Renaissance sculpture and took this for his main inspiration. He worked with a Florentine art and antique dealer (Giovanni Freppa) where he produced numerous neo-Renaissance works, most often busts and bas-reliefs in the style of Donatello, Verrocchio, Mino de Fiesole and other Italian masters.

Victoria and Albert Museum