Giacomo Benevelli Biography
Giacomo Benevelli (Reggio nell'Emilia, 3 March 1925 – Pavia, 13 June 2011) was an Italian sculptor. He has been exhibiting since 1957, he lived and worked in Milan. Prominent exponent of contemporary Italian and European abstract sculpture. He is the nephew of Anselmo Govi, Italian painter (1893 - 1953). Benevelli descends from the noble French family Beneville (Bonneville) in its current Italianized form also known as Benevello, Benevel (Piedmont) or Benevelli from the harpitan Bônavela. Also reported in historical texts as Benedelli or Benevellum. Ancient patricians of Modena, already included among the Gallorum families of French origin in the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, Knights of the Order of the Golden Spur nobles of the Counts of Provence (already cited in the Nobiliaire Universel de France). Giacomo Benevelli was born in Reggio Emilia and completed his first studies in France where he obtained the certificat d'etudes. After the war he moved to Rome where he resumed his studies, graduating from the Art School of the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. In 1950 he moved to Milan where he graduated in Scenography at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, where he later became assistant to the painter Mauro Reggiani and professor of figure and ornamental modeling (1958). Also in the early fifties he began to frequent the Milanese studio of the sculptor Cesare Poli, holder of the sculpture chair in Brera and his teacher, becoming his assistant. He felt his interest in sculpture growing and abandoned scenography to dedicate himself exclusively to modeled art. Thanks to his acquaintance with Poli, he met and frequented artists of great importance such as Oskar Kokoschka and Jean Arp from whom he received essential stimuli for his training. In 1957 he made his debut on the artistic scene, winning the Sabena prize in Brussels with a sculpture depicting the myth of Icarus. His first solo exhibition was in 1959 at the Pater gallery in Milan where he presented a group of sculptures entitled Fantocci. The catalog will be edited by Giorgio Kaisserlian. One of his sculptures entitled Teleios is located in Piazzale Loreto in Milan; his works are preserved in public and private collections including the British Museum, London; Royal Museum, Antwerp; Collection of the Bank of Italy; Art collection of the city of Milan.
