Benvenuto Cellini: Memoirs Written by Himself

by Benvenuto Cellini

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1927

About the author

Benvenuto Cellini was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, and author. His best-known extant works include the Cellini Salt Cellar, the sculpture of Perseus with the Head of Medusa, and his autobiography, which has been described as "one of the most important documents of the 16th century".

Reviews

[Michael Zwiauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a mind-blowing, fantastical, scarcely believable and, at times, boring survey of a life. Definitely brings the 16th century to life in a totally immediate and accessible way. It’s especially fascinating in describing the patron-artist relationship in all its fragility - something that still exists in our own world and resonates deeply in questions about the funding of art and artists.

Benvenuto is undoubtedly a pretty vile individual, yet his autobiography suggests the enormity of lying, deceit, violence, double-crossing, corruption and murderousness of his time. In that context, he makes himself look like a hero.

Above all, we must be grateful for people like him, who feel their self-importance to such a degree that they think it worthy of preserving it for prosperity. Without these insolent egomaniacs, we would have very little flavour in our understanding of history.