Details of Sculptor

Surname

Vassalli

Alternative Surname

First Name

Francesco

Initial of Surname

V

Year of Birth/Baptism

Flourished

1723-63

Year of Death

Biographical Details

A decorative plasterer, he was one of a family long settled at Riva St Vitale, near Lugarno. He was in England by 1724 and provided ornaments in a number of English houses including Sutton Scarsdale, Derbys; Aske Hall, Yorks and Townley Hall, Lancs. At Castle Howard, he was paid 2 guineas ‘for drawing a design for finishing ye temple’ in 1736 (5th Book of Disbursements, 7 Sept). The following year he earned £141 for work ‘at ye inside of ye Temple’ [of theWinds] in stucco and scagliola (Castle Howard Building Accts, G2/1/4, fol 151r, 152v; G2/2/54). In 1723 Sir John Dutton paid ‘Sig. Vassalli’ for 14 busts, again no doubt of plaster (1). In 1724 he made a number of plaster figures and busts for Ditchley Park, Oxon (4). His last known English commission, completed in 1763, was for stucco work in the library and dining room at Shugborough, Staffs.
Literary References: Gunnis 1968, 408; Beard 1981, 288-9