Details of Sculptor

Surname

Bienaime

Alternative Surname

First Name

Angelo

Initial of Surname

B

Year of Birth/Baptism

Flourished

1829-51

Year of Death

Biographical Details

Bienaimé was born at Carrara and studied under Thorvaldsen before he came to London c1828. The following year he showed busts of Sir Astley and Lady Cooper at the Royal Academy (6, 7). His statue of Innocence mourning the loss of her dove, purchased second-hand by Joseph Neeld for his collection at Grittleton House, Wilts in 1847, was probably carved in Italy since it is dated 1826 (1). Gunnis notes that a statue of Innocence had been commissioned in Italy by the Marchesa Somareva, but was unfinished when she died and was accordingly sent over to London. He adds that it was exhibited at the Colosseum in Regent’s Park in 1829 and later bought by Sir Matthew Ridley. A version of the same subject was shown at the Royal Academy in 1838. The sculptor’s Recumbent bacchante, executed in 1836, is at Powerscourt (2). Bienaimé made a replica for the emperor of Russia the following year and later produced another for Sir Augustus Clifford. Clifford also commissioned statues of Narcissus and the four seasons (3, 5), as well as six marble vases for his house at Westfield, on the Isle of Wight. It seems likely that the small statue of Spring exhibited at the RA in 1846, and described as ‘elegantly executed’ by the Art Union, was one of those made for Clifford (AU, 1846, 189). Gunnis suggests that this sculptor was responsible for eight statues and two vases commissioned by the Duke of Devonshire for Chatsworth but these may rather have been made by Francesco Bienaimé, who was perhaps a relative.
Literary References: Le Grice 1844, I, 127-30; II, 96-105; Gunnis 1968, 51; Read 1982, 141
Archival References: GPC