Angelo Bragalini Biography
Angelo Bragalini (1913-1994) sculptor, goldsmith, decorator, painter and designer Born in Fidenza and raised in Bologna, Angelo Bragalini continued his studies of architecture, fine applied arts in Rome, Venice and Florence. He studied sculpture with the master sculptor Tomba Cleto and was a pupil of other well-known Italian artists, including Del Debbio and Moretti. His talent and passion for sculpture were soon recognized and won him distinguished commissions throughout his career. In addition to his more classical mastery of sculpture and graphics, Bragalini mastered metalwork and goldsmithing, combining his understanding of design and form alongside his technical skills to broaden his expressive range. Working with a spectrum of materials and using techniques such as inlay and metal engraving, the Bragalini drew from diverse influences: modernist, Renaissance, Etruscan, By the 1950s Bragalini was famous as both an artist and a designer. Among his commissions were decorative wood and glass panels for the rooms of the great Italian ocean liner, the Andrea Doria, which tragically sank in 1956. He created decorative works for Elizabeth Arden in Paris; La Roche in Switzerland; Cinzano, Martini & Rossi, Ferragamo, Borsalino and Barilla in Italy, as well as sculptural figures for the Hilton in Rome and furnishings for the Egyptian king Faruq's yacht. Perhaps Bragalini's most legendary admirer was director Federico Fellini, who commissioned the artist to create around thirty sculptures and sets for iconic films such as 8 1/2 (1963) and Juliet of the Spirits (1965). Bragalini also created a terracotta sculpture of the famous Italian actress Monica Vitti. He also created valuable gold works for the Vatican in the 1960s. Bronzes, bas-reliefs, mirrors, jewels: the multifaceted artist knew few limits. His honors included first prizes for goldsmithing in Florence and for decorative glass in San Remo. As famous as his work was among the cognoscenti, Bragalini himself continued to work without fanfare, predominantly outside Bologna for most of his career.
