The Monument to Bianca Bazzoni is a funerary work by Italian sculptor Alberto Bazzoni, completed in 1931–32 and installed in the Cimitero Monumentale di Milano. Created as a tomb for his wife, the monument reflects Bazzoni’s engagement with classical forms derived from his study of Roman sculpture.
Bazzoni (1889–1973) was born in San Nicomede di Salsomaggiore in the province of Parma. Following service in the First World War, he trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Parma between 1908 and 1913, then executed public commissions including fountains and monuments to the fallen across the Emilia-Romagna region. In 1926, he relocated to Milan, where he established himself as a major sculptural presence and produced the cathedral statue of Saint Augustine for Milan Cathedral alongside this monument.
The Cimitero Monumentale, designed by architect Carlo Maciachini and opened in 1866, houses major works by leading twentieth-century Italian sculptors. Bazzoni’s tomb for Bianca exemplifies the cemetery’s tradition of commissioning contemporary artistic practice while maintaining connection to classical ideals.
About Alberto Bazzoni
Alberto Bazzoni was an Italian sculptor whose career spanned the early-to-mid twentieth century. After his initial work in Parma and Emilia-Romagna, he became a significant figure in Milan’s sculptural milieu from 1926 onward. Between 1936 and 1946, he worked extensively in Paris, producing small bronzes for private collectors before returning permanently to Milan.
Details
- Creator: Alberto Bazzoni (1889–1973)
- Date: 1931–32
- Location: Cimitero Monumentale di Milano, Milan
- Type: Funerary monument
- Artistic approach: Roman sculptural influence
Frequently asked questions
Who created the monument?
The Monument to Bianca Bazzoni was created by Alberto Bazzoni, an Italian sculptor born in 1889 in San Nicomede di Salsomaggiore, Parma.
Where is the monument located?
The monument is installed in the Cimitero Monumentale di Milano in Milan, Italy, one of the city’s two largest cemeteries, noted for its abundance of artistic tombs and contemporary and classical Italian sculptures.
What artistic approach did Bazzoni employ?
Bazzoni’s work was influenced by his study of Roman sculpture, an influence visible in this tomb as well as in his statue of Saint Augustine for Milan Cathedral.
