The Italian Legacy in the Dominican Republic

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ITALIAN SCULPTORS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

the promoter of important public works, many of which were accompanied

by sculptures made by the Italian artist Nicola Arrighini (Pietrasanta, Lucca,

Italy, 1905 - 1977); Arrighini was from the same place as Arturo Tomagnini,

mentioned above.

Arrighini came from a family of sculptors active in Pietrasanta from

1870. An internationally recognized firm that executed public art projects

in several countries was founded by his grandfather, Luca Arrighini (1845–

1915); his father, Enrico Arrighini (1880–1955), also worked there. Nicola

studied in Carrara and was part of the “Gruppo dei Vageri Viareggini,”

headed by Lorenzo Viani. He pursued an active career in which he par-

ticipated in numerous exhibitions in Italy, including the Milan Triennale,

the Rome Quadrienniale, the Venice Biennale, and the Paris Biennale.

In the 1940s he was recognized as a “Professore di Arte.” Specializing

in marble carving, his works, including most notably

La Fede

(Faith)—a

life-size female sculpture now in the collection of the Galleria d’Arte

Moderna in Milan—are greatly admired. He created busts of Saint Pio

of Pietralcina, the painter Lorenzo Viani, Msgr. José Guerra Campos,

President Kennedy, Pope Paul VI, and Pope John Paul II. He collabo-

rated with Giovanni Ragazzi in mosaic work, and carried out works

for the Chiesa di Santa Teresa del Bambin Gesù in Tombetta, Vero-

Bronze equestrian

sculpture of Gregorio

Luperón on the Puerto

Plata boardwalk,

executed in 1971 by

Nicola Arrighini.

The

Listín Diario

issue of August

17, 1971 reports

the inauguration of

Avenida Luperón in

Santo Domingo and

the unveiling of the

statue of the hero, by

the Italian sculptor

Nicola Arrighini.

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