Born in 1789 in Carrara, Italy, Carlo Franzoni studied at the art academy in his birth city. After his brother, Giuseppe Franzoni, died in 1815, Carlo moved to the United States in 1816 to continue Giuseppe's work on the Capitol. Unfortunately, Carlo also passed away unexpectedly in 1819 from heart complications.
Atillio Piccirilli was born, just like all of his brothers, in Massa, Italy in 1866. Attilio is the most well-known brother, and one of two brothers we know traveled to Rome to study sculpture. Attilio is credited with more individual work than the other brothers and did more projects outside of New York and Washington D.C. before his death in 1945.
Antonio Capellano was born in 1780 in Italy. He studied in Rome under Antonio Canova and is credited as a sculptor of the court of Spain. He was invited by B. Henry Latrobe to help decorate the buildings and landscape of Washington D.C. after its destruction in 1814. He retuned to Italy and opened a workshop in Florence where he died in 1840.
Antonio Canova was born in Possagno, Italy in 1757 and apprenticed to Giuseppe Bernardi in Venice. He moved to Rome in 1780 to study and work, becoming renowned as a sculptor and one of Europe's most acclaimed. His major work, the Tempio Canoviano, was completed in 1822 after his death, with his body interred inside.
