Odoardo Tabacchi Biography
Odoardo Tabacchi, Italian sculptor, was born in Valganna, in the province of Varese, in 1831. He attended the Brera Academy in Milan starting from 1845, under the guidance of Abbondio Sangiorgio, Benedetto Cacciatori and Pietro Magni. In 1851 he was selected for a three-year stay in Rome, where he perfected his sculpture techniques thanks to collaboration with Pietro Tenerani. Later, he moved to Florence, where he frequented the Caffè Michelangelo and created the "Crying of the Angels". While in Naples he met Domenico Morelli and Filippo Palizzi. Returning to Milan in 1860, he undertook a prolific artistic activity which continued until 1868, dedicating himself above all to monumental sculpture. Among his most significant works are the monument to Arnaldo da Brescia (1883), the monument to Cavour, created in collaboration with Tantardini, in Milan, the monument to Paleocapa (1871) and that to Garibaldi (1887) in Turin and to Umberto I (1902) in Asti. Furthermore, he created funerary sculptures and graceful female figures, including Hypatia, Tuffolina and Cica-Cica. Tabacchi has participated in numerous exhibitions in Italy, Paris and Vienna. In 1867 he became a professor at the Albertina Academy in Turin. His other important works include the S. Maria Egiziaca, the Foscolo and the Treaty of Campo Formio group, which were exhibited in Paris in 1867.