芸術部門

Perseus, Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence

"…I set at once to construct a little furnace in the workshop erected for me by the Duke, after my own plans and design, in the house which the Duke had given me. No sooner was the furnace ready than I went to work with all diligence upon the casting of Medusa, that is, the woman twisted in a heap beneath the feet of Perseus."
(LXIII, Cellini, Benvenuto, Autobiography, The Harvard Classics. 1909-14).

B. Cellini, Ponte Vecchio, Florence

Studio Entrance, Via della Pergola

IE's new Fine Arts Studio is located in the very building where the Mannerist goldsmith and sculptor, Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) created and cast his bronze masterpiece "Perseus" (1545-1554), as described in his adventurous autobiography.

This historic building later became the studio of another well-known Florentine sculptor, Marcello Tommasi, who is also the chairman of our Department of Fine Arts (please see his CV and portfolio below). Prof. Tommasi has graciously donated the use of this studio/museum to our students for the painting, drawing and sculpture courses.

"The house in which Benvenuto Cellini created and cast the Perseus, and where he died 14 February, 1571"

The Sculpture courtyard - bronze statues by Professor Marcello Tommasi

Prof. Tommasi, the son of sculptor, Leone Tommasi, acknowledged his love for art and acquired his first formal training at a young age. After his primary and secondary school education in Viareggio, he relocated to Florence and simultaneously pursed a degree in Letters and Philosophy at the Università di Firenze, and attended the art studio of the well known Italian artist, Pietro Annigoni (1910-1988). Under the guidance of the maestro, Tommasi furthered his studies of painting, drawing and etching while specializing in sculpture and bronze work. In 1966, he earned his doctorate in 美術史, presenting a thesis on the 16th century sculptor, Pietro Tacca.

In his career, Prof. Tommasi has held exhibitions of his work throughout in major European cities: Florence, Rome, Milan, Paris, London, Barcellona, Madrid, Malaga, Monovar, and Amsterdam. Today, many of his works can be found in the galleries, museums, churches and squares of these cities as well as near his hometown of Pietrasanta in Tuscany.

Currently, Prof. Tommasi continues to produce his work in his Florentine studio, is chairman of the sculpture department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, as well as chairman of the 芸術部門 at the Istituto Europeo in Florence.

Marcello Tommasi has received several prestigious awards, such as:
1964 - National Sculpture Competition in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the death of Michelangelo; his winning piece the "The Conversion of Saul", was then placed in the Sculpture Museum of Michelangelo's native town, Caprese Michelangelo.
1972- Silver medal of the city of Paris & 1976 "Vermeil" medal - both awarded by the Hotel de Ville, Paris
1983, awarded the "Plaquette du Bimillenaire de la Ville de Paris", on occasion of the unveiling of the Liberty Fontain
1988- awarded the title of "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Artes et des Lettres" by the French Minister of Culture

Galleries and Museums which house Marcello Tommasi's work:
Cabinent of Designs and Prints, Uffizi Gallery, Florence
National Library, Paris
University of Pisa
Institute of 美術史, University of Florence
Modern art gallery, Piacenza
Modern art gallery, Barcellona
Modern art gallery, Malaga
National Museum, Warsaw
Azorin Museum, Monovar, Alicante
Sculpture museum, Caprese Michelangelo
The Vatican Modern art gallery

Works which can be found in the churches and squares of Paris and Tuscany:
Paris:
"Carolina" bronze statue in G. Piernè Square,
"Ilaria" bronze statue at the entrance to the Communes du Charenton,
Liberty Fountain in L. Blum Square.

Florence:
Bronze doors (8 relief panels), Santa Maria de'Pazzi Church
Bronze statue of San Giuseppe Calasanzio, Scuole Pie Fiorentine
Bronze statuette of St. Francis, Church of Santa Croce
Bronze "Resurrection", Via Ripalta, Nave di Rovezzano
Bronze statue of St. John the Baptist, in Via Nanchino, Nave di Rovezzano
High -relief depicting the Baptism of Christ in the Church of San Marco Vecchio
Bronze statue of Apollo and Daphne, fountain in Piazza Libertà

Pietrasanta and provinces of Lucca and Massa (Northern Tuscany)
14 bronze relief panels depicting the stations of the cross, Duomo
Bronze group sculpture, Piazza Mercato Nuovo
Bronze doors and statue of St. John the Baptist, Pieve dei SS Giovanni e Felicità
Baptismal Font in bronze and crucifix, Church of SS Sacramento
"Crucifixion" altarpiece in oil, Duomo di Saravezza
"Baptism of Christ", fresco, Santuario di Quercioli, Massa
Bronze doors, statues and marble reliefs, Svetlich Chapel, Camposanto di Querceta
"Baptism of Christ", fresco, and a marble statue of the Madonna and Child, Church of Stazzema

Other areas
Bronze Fountain, Memorial to Osvaldo Martini, Castelfranco di Sotto (Pisa)
"Deposition" and "Resurrection" in bronze, Martini Chapel, Camposanto, Castelfranco di Sotto (PI)
"Alcione" high-relief in bronze, Cassa di Risparmio, Prato
Crucifix in Bronze, Church of San Paolo, Prato
Bronze doors (6 panels) and stations of the cross (in bronze) Church of San Giovanni Battista and Sant'Agostino, La Spezia.

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