Sauro Cavallini

Sauro Cavallini (La Spezia, 1927 – Fiesole, 2016) was a celebrated Italian sculptor known for his expressive, flowing forms that blend realism with lyrical abstraction. Largely self-taught, Cavallini began his artistic journey in Florence in the 1950s, experimenting with various materials before founding his first studio in 1957. In 1960, he moved to Fiesole, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life. Today, his legacy is preserved at the Sauro Cavallini Study Centre, housed in his former residence.

Renowned for his mastery of bronze and metal, Cavallini refined his technique while restoring sculptures damaged in the catastrophic Arno River flood of 1966. His works often evoke themes of peace, fraternity, and the human spirit, rendered through dynamic lines and rhythmic compositions.

 

Among his most iconic creations is the monumental Hymn to Life (1990), a three-meter-high bronze sculpture located in front of the Palace of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg—gifted by Italy as a symbol of unity and human dignity. A scale model was later presented to Pope John Paul II in 1992.

 

Cavallini's sculptures are displayed in major international locations, including:

• Pas de Doux and Fraternità in the Principality of Monaco

• Monument to Konrad Adenauer in the Government Palace of Bonn

• Monument to Peace at the Palazzo degli Affari in Florence

• Monument to Christopher Columbus in Genoa (Expo 1992)

• Flight of the Seagull at the RAI headquarters in Florence

• Crucifix at the Cemetery of the Porte Sante, San Miniato al Monte

His public artworks are complemented by a vast body of sculptures held in private collections and his own house museum in Fiesole. Cavallini's enduring influence is carried forward by his family and the foundation that bears his name, ensuring that his vision of harmony, movement, and life continues to resonate worldwide.