Sculptural tradition handed down for over 150 years
Arrighini’s company history is deeply rooted in the culture and knowledge of classical art as well as sculptural craftsmanship, and these are the key factors that have made it successful and enhanced its reputation for over 150 years. Since 1870, through the work of four generations, the company has distinguished itself worldwide for its many celebrated works of art in Marble, Bronze and Mosaic.
From its foundation to the present day
The company was founded in 1870 by Luca Arrighini (1845-1915); and as soon as his two sons, Enrico and Giulio, reached adulthood, they began working with their father, achieving great success by continuing to work marble artistically. In the 1950s, Giulio retired and Enrico carried on the business together with his son Nicola who, in 1955, inherited the company from his father, leaving it in turn to his son Gualtiero and later in 2005 to his sons after him.
Artistic Training
Rigorous artistic training was given to each member of the Arrighini family which involved studying at art schools and learning the trade in the workshop, where all types of marble work were carried out: classical statuary and sacred sculpture, ornamentation, architecture and ornamental objects, as well as handling orders for bronze and mosaic projects. Luca, Enrico and Nicola were excellent sculptors while Giulio and Gualtiero looked after demoulding.
Achieving Excellence
Having achieved international renown, during its long history, the Arrighini Company has created many public as well as sacred works of art in marble, stone and bronze, not to mention precious Mosaics for clients at home and abroad, especially American companies and private clients, as well as from Japan, Australia, the Arab Emirates, Russia, Korea and the whole of Europe. In the Dominican Republic, above all, Nicola and Gualtiero Arrighini, the grandfather and father respectively of the current owners, were awarded gold medals as well as the order of the knights of labour by President J. Balanguer for the important works they carried out.
Recognition from the President
During the years spent in office, President Balaguer promoted important public and monumental works of art that became symbols of Dominican culture. Many of them included marble sculptures and bronze works created by Arrighini Art Studio. In 1976, on the occasion of the construction of the Monument to the Fathers of the Homeland, the President himself recommended that the architect Cristian Martínez Villanueva, who designed the work, should use Arrighini Art studio. As a result of the many works carried out, Gualtiero and Nicola Arrighini received special awards as well as personal recognition from Balaguer.
Arrighini Art all
over the World
At our workshop we have been making sculptures for many religious buildings, including the Madonna dei Rimedi (Our Lady of the Remedies) in Palermo (Italy), the Basilica of Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus, of the Discalced Carmelites, in Verona (Italy), St. Anthony's Church in Chicago, Saint Anthony’s Capuchin Friary Church in Hawthorn (Melbourne - Australia). And furthermore, the company also made the marble Stations of the Cross, the Via Crucis at the Villa de la Quebrada, in the municipality of Belgrano (Argentina), which comprises fourteen stations with 62 life-size sculpted figures.
The numerous classical sculptures we have made include 24 caryatids in white Carrara statuary marble for the National Palace in Santo Domingo; Michelangelo’s David for a park in the US; the large-scale sculptural group for the Altar of the Fatherland in Santo Domingo by Architect Cristian Martinez Villanueva, depicting Duarte, Sánchez and Mella placed 3.85 metres high on marble pedestals 2.30 metres high; the exterior and interior marble cladding of the Faro Colón, the large Dominican monument and museum built in honour of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the New World.
In Santo Domingo we also made the two large bronze fountains adorning the Theatre in the Plaza de la Cultura; two bronze equestrian statues of General Gregorio Luperon; the large, 18-metre-long, life-size ‘Sugar Cane Monument’, also in bronze, a sculpture by Nicola Arrighini, consisting of a wagon loaded with cane pulled by six oxen, and a man with a woman and child representing the family of sugar cane cutters; the 10-metre high bronze statue of Cristo Redentor in Puerto Plata and the life-size bronze statue of Juan Pablo Duarte, liberator of the Dominican Republic.
Luca Arrighini
FOUNDER 1870/1950
Enrico Arrighini
from 1950 to 1955
Nicola Arrighini
from 1955 to 1977
Gualtiero Arrighini
from 1977 to 1998
If you are interested in Marble sculptures, Bronze works or Mosaic projects, please contact us for information and quotes, we will be happy to offer our advice.
