The Artwork
Our Mission
Most all the bronze pieces in our collection come from the undoubtedly iconic Renaissance period, and from a foundry with equally as iconic origins. Fonderia Artistica Ferdinando Marinelli (FAFM) was founded on the outskirts of Florence, Italy in 1919, by Fernando Marinelli Sr., after he mastered the ‘Lost Wax Process’ known to have originated with the infamous sculpture Giambologna.
Before long, the fame of Fonderia Artistica Ferdinando Marinelli spread all over the world. From a commission to create a statue for Uruguay’s capitol, to crafting one of the four horses on the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C. – FAFM’s legacy was being paved.
The history of Fonderia Artistica Ferdinando Marinelli of Florence testifies not only a tradition and a culture but also a craftsmanship skill that has been handed down for centuries. Used today are the techniques Renaissance artists like Cellini and Donatello relied on – the same techniques used by the Etruscans, the Greeks and the Romans.
The Gipsoteca, the collection of plaster molds from Ancient, Classical and Renaissance original works, owned by Ferdinando Marinelli Jr., is one of the treasures of the Fonderia Artistica Ferdinando Marinelli. Thanks to this collection, the Foundry can produce its famous bronzes and marbles identically to the masterpieces from which they originate. The Gipsoteca was established during the first half of the 20th century. The founder of the FAFM, Ferdinando Marinelli Sr., dedicated part of his time to creating these casts directly from the masterpieces themselves, with the approval of the Pope. Nowadays, Ferdinando Marinelli Jr., continues to enrich the collection when the appropriate authorities permit working on the original sculptures for the purpose of producing museum-grade posthumous castings in bronze.
With its long history, strong roots, and priceless mould collection, FAFM has long been secured in its spot as one of the busiest, and most important, foundries in Italy, while Marinelli Sr. forged himself as one of the rings in the long and unbroken chain that began with the early Renaissance smelters and 16th century specialists. This chain of tradition and artisanship continues to this day under the direction of his nephew Ferdinando Marinelli, and his students.
