BOOKS: The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini

Saliera of Francis I, 1543

The autobiographical writings of Renaissance sculptor Benvenuto Cellini are some of the most interesting ever written. Written in Florence in 1558 and simply called, “The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini,” Cellini recounts in detail his colorful life of wild adventures. And what a life it was! This is one fantastic story. Not only was Cellini one of the greatest goldsmiths and sculptors that ever lived, but he was also one of the most notorious characters who ever lived which makes his autobiography the most important that emerged from the Italian Renaissance. His patrons were the Medici, kings, bishops cardinals and the pope. Many of which he “told off.” Are the stories true? Many have been backed up by contemporary accounts. From these writings historians can draw a vivid portrait of the manners and morals of the rulers of the Renaissance. Cellini also had one of the largest egos in history and spares no ink to tell the reader how highly he thinks of himself. The writing is coarse and bawdy in spots as Cellini tells his tales of loves, plots, duels, and brawls. He even claims to have committed several murders and then brags about his ingenuity. Speaking of two men who brought a court case against him he states; “The first man I attacked was a plaintiff who had sued me; and one evening I wounded him in the legs and arms so severely, taking care, however, not to kill him, that I deprived him of the use of both his legs. Then I sought out the other fellow who had brought the suit, and used him also such wise that he dropped it.” In addition to his other activities Cellini seemed to have time to woo many mistresses at which he delights to give the reader the details. He also had several male lovers. One such affair landed him in jail on charges of sodomy. History would have regarded Cellini as nothing more than a braggart and a scoundrel had it not been for his beautiful sculptures. He produced stunning work both in marble and in gold. Today Cellini is consider one of the colossi of the Italian Renaissance. Even his writing is excellent and his autobiography, regarded as a classic for hundreds of years, is seen as the progenitor of the Romantic novel. As history and autobiography there are few greater works, however an added bonus is that Cellini’s Autobiography is fun to read.

Note: On May 11, 2003, Cellini’s Saliera was stolen from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. It was recovered on January 21, 2006 buried in a lead box in a forest near the town of Zwettl, Austria. 50 miles north of Vienna. The theif Robert Mang, who demanded a 12 million dollar ransom for 3 years, eventually turned himself in done in by his own cell phone text message.