Achille Simonetti (sculptor) explained

Achille Simonetti (1838–1900) was a sculptor in Australia. He undertook many important commissions.

Early life

Simonetti was born in Rome, Papal States, the son of Luigi Simonetti, a prominent neoclassical sculptor in Rome.

Career

In 1871 James O'Quinn, Roman Catholic Bishop of Brisbane, persuaded Simonetti to immigrate to Brisbane, Queensland. By 1874 he moved to Sydney establishing a studio in Balmain.^[1]

Later life

Simonetti died after a two-week illness on 23 March 1900 at his residence and studio in Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales.^[2] He was buried in the Roman Catholic section of Rookwood Cemetery.^[3]

At the time of his death, he was designing on a statue of the late Queensland Premier Thomas Joseph Byrnes.^[4] Although there was a proposal that Simonetti's former pupil James White might continue the work, the commission was given to Melbourne sculptor Bertram Mackennal who completed the status in 1902. It was placed at the corner of Queen, Wickham, Ann and Boundary Streets in Brisbane (which was later redeveloped to create Centenary Place).^[5]

Significant works

• 1892: Lifesize statue of the late James O'Quinn for St Stephen's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Brisbane^[6]
• 1897: Statue of Arthur Phillip, first Governor of New South Wales, in Sydney^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Simonetti, Achille (1838–1900). Hutchison. Noel S.. 1976. Australian Dictionary of Biography. 20 January 2017.
2. News: Signor Simonetti . . IV . 230 . New South Wales, Australia . 31 March 1900 . 20 January 2017 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: Second Bushmen's Contingent. 27 March 1900. The Evening News. 10,234. Sydney. 6. National Library of Australia. 22 January 2017.
4. News: The Byrnes' Statue. 28 March 1900. Warwick Examiner and Times. 4419. Queensland. 34. 2. National Library of Australia. 20 January 2017.
5. News: The Byrnes Monument in Brisbane. 20 September 1902. The W.A. Record. 1147. Western Australia. XXVII. 18. National Library of Australia. 22 January 2017.
6. Web site: Bishop James O'Quinn. Monument Australia. 20 January 2017.
7. Web site: Governor Arthur Phillip. Monument Australia. 20 January 2017.