A sculptural detail from the War Memorial created by Ercole Drei in 1933 within the Certosa di Bologna, this work depicts a young soldier as part of a larger commemorative composition in the monastery’s sixth cloister.
The Certosa di Bologna, founded in 1334 as a Carthusian monastery, transformed into the city’s Monumental Cemetery in 1801 and became a significant cultural landmark praised by literary figures including Byron. Drei’s memorial sits within this layered historical context, where Renaissance architecture and monumental sculpture serve as spaces for remembrance. The young soldier figure exemplifies the sculptural language of early twentieth-century Italian commemorative art, rendered with anatomical attention and formal restraint characteristic of the period.
About the Certosa di Bologna
Originally a Carthusian monastery established in 1334 and suppressed during the Napoleonic era in 1797, the Certosa became Bologna’s principal cemetery in 1801. The site also contains archaeological significance: in 1869 an Etruscan necropolis dating from the sixth to third centuries BC was discovered within its grounds, revealing layers of historical use spanning nearly two millennia.
Details
- Creator: Ercole Drei
- Year: 1933
- Location: Chiostro VI (Sixth Cloister), Certosa di Bologna, Bologna
- Type: Sculptural detail, War Memorial
- Current context: Monumental Cemetery
Frequently asked questions
Who created this memorial?
The War Memorial was created by sculptor Ercole Drei in 1933.
Where is the Certosa di Bologna?
The Certosa di Bologna is located in Bologna, northern Italy, and serves as the city’s Monumental Cemetery since 1801.
What was the Certosa originally?
The Certosa was founded in 1334 as a Carthusian monastery and was suppressed in 1797 before becoming a cemetery in 1801.
