Massimiliano Soldani Benzi Biography
Massimiliano Soldani Benzi, born in Montevarchi on 15 July 1656, was an Italian painter, sculptor and medalist. From a young age he demonstrated a precocious sculptural talent, so much so that, while still a child, he enjoyed modeling clay figurines which his father then fired. It was thanks to Cosimo III that Soldani was able to perfect himself in Rome, at the art school he established and directed by the painter Ciro Ferri and the sculptor Ercole Ferrata. Soldani remained in Rome for four years, where he gained fame by creating medal portraits of illustrious figures such as Christina of Sweden, Cardinals Azzolino, Chigi and Rospigliosi, and Pope Innocent XI. The Grand Duke called him back to Florence in 1684 to employ him at the Grand Ducal Mint, also allowing him to have his own private laboratory inside the building. In addition to the medals, among his other most famous works, we can mention the Medici Venus and the Dancing Faun made in bronze from marble originals from the grand ducal collection on behalf of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in 1711. Soldani died on February 23, 1740 due to a stroke.
