Augusto Rivalta (1835 or 1838 – April 14, 1925) was an Italian sculptor.
Rivalta was born inAlessandria, Italy, toGenoese parents. In 1859, he moved toFlorence, but soon swept up in the patriotic events, he volunteered for the Genovese Carabiniere, and took part in the campaigns. He was wounded during the conflict.
He returned to Florence, where he studied withAristodemo Costoli, and joined the studio ofGiovanni Duprè. Among his first designs was for a monument to Count Cavour in Turin. While the jury sided with Rivalta, the commission was given to the more established Duprè. Rivalta's statue was placed in the courtyard of the Banca Nazionale in Florence.[2]
Because he took part in theRisorgimento Rivalta was able to obtain commissions for memorials of many of its leaders includingGaribaldi,Cavour,Ricasoli andVictor Emmanuel II. He also authored seven or eight memorials in theStaglieno cemetery inGenoa where he helped pioneer the Italian Realism movement[3] with memorials such as those for theCarlo Raggio (1872),Pietro Ghigliani (1876),Giulio Cesare Drago (1884), andPallavicino (1892) families.[4] He also completed theMonument to Madama Trachil in the cemetery ofNizza Monferrato.
Among his other works are thegiocatore di trottola ; the marble group ofUn bambino che scherza con una capra; andA wounded Zouave in ministered in the field by a Sister of Charity, while a bersagliere, launches himself with his bayonet towards the enemy (1861). he completed aGiovan Battista Niccolini once found in the Museum Capodimonte. He sculpted one of the bas-reliefs at the base of the Monument to Cavour in Turin, displaying the funereal cortege transporting the body to the cemetery. He completed the monument to the Garibaldi fighter, Savi. He completed a number of busts, and the equestrian statue of Vittorio Emanuele II for Livorno.[5]
In 1870, he became professor of sculpture at theFlorentine Academy[6] where one of his students wasPompeo Coppini and another wasTheodora Cowan.[7]
Media related toAugusto Rivalta at Wikimedia Commons
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