Sculpteur

On 31st May 1829 Domenico Carli, sculptor, was born in Sanremo. Son of Antonio and Bianca Maria Onetti, he began his activity as a gilder in his hometown.
He moved to Genoa to the workshop of a certain Perasso, a woodcarver, and dedicated himself to sculpture, also attending courses at the Academy. Finally he perfected his skills in Rome in the studio of Salvatore Revelli. His most famous activity was the funerary one, which brought him fame also abroad: many Ligurian cemeteries have his works, starting from Staglieno: Pessale tombs, Brichetto monument, Ferrari tomb, Lanfranchi and Pisano tombs.

His portrait and religious production is also remarkable, with significant works: the immaculate in Staglieno, St. Peter's at the church of the Immaculate in Genoa, the altar of the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Bussana, the two large plaster statues Esther and Judith for the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa, the Dead Christ exhibited in Turin in 1898 as well as various decorations for the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Genoa.

The Society promoting fine arts in Genoa awarded him in the 1865 exhibition for three works: the portrait of Caffaro commissioned by His Royal Highness Prince Oddone, the portrait of King Vittorio Emanuele II and Christopher Columbus. In Sanremo she made other bronze busts including King Victor Emmanuel II and the star of Italy, she also made the bust of Dr. Onetti and his wife.

He was the author of numerous commissions for foreign countries, sending commemorative monuments to Russia, Uruguay and Guatemala.

He died in Serra Ricò on 6th August 1912.

(source: Marco Mauro)