Francesco Righetti Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Francesco Righetti was born in Rome on 11 June 1749. In 1783 he obtained his silversmith's license but had started casting a few years earlier. Read the full biography

Francesco Righetti was born in Rome on 11 June 1749. In 1783 he obtained his silversmith's license but had started casting a few years earlier. In 1781 he was commissioned to make life-size copies of some ancient statues for the home of the Dutch banker Henry Hope. The following year two of these pieces were shown to Pius VI. In 1805 he was appointed head of the Vatican Foundry in place of Giuseppe Valadier who had resigned. He was one of the most important Roman bronzesmiths of the period. He was very skilled at casting bronzes inspired by ancient statuary which were much sought after by travelers on the Grand Tour. His most important work was certainly the casting of the great horse for Canova's monument of Charles III in Naples. Preparations began in June 1816 and Righetti worked with great passion and commitment. After the horse's great success, he stayed in Naples for a few months, but soon fell ill and died in Rome on 25 November 1819.