Giuseppe Moretti

Giuseppe Moretti was an Italian migr sculptor who became known in America for his public monuments in bronze and marble. Most notable among his works is Vulcan in Birmingham, Alabama, which is the largest cast iron statue in the world. On a personal level, Moretti was known for his eclectic personality and for always wearing a green tie, but professionally, is claimed to be the first man to use aluminum in art. Moretti enjoyed some celebrity in his lifetime, and was a friend of famed Italian tenor Enrico Caruso. It is even reported that the legendary singer repeatedly praised Morettis voice.

Giuseppe Moretti was born in Siena, Italy, onFebruary 1857, the nephew of Vincenzo Cardinal Moretti, a noted art patron. He began studying marble sculpting at the age ofwith the monks of San Domenico and with sculptor Tito Serrochi, whose studio was in the cloister of the church in Siena. Morettis precocious nature is emphasized in an anecdote about his early fascination with becoming an artist. Apparently aware that distant Florence was the nexus of Italian art, the young Moretti set off down the road in search of a career in the art world. An alert neighbor returned the wouldbe runaway, and soon after, Moretti was placed under the tutelage of Serrochi.

Source: Wikipedia