Salvatore Alban

Background

He was born in Oppido Mamertina in Calabria, to parents of limited means.

Career

He began in Calabria as a sculptor of wooden Presepi or Nativity scenes. Because of his talent, his townspeople gave him a stipend to study in Naples. There he trained under a cavalier Sorbille, also from Calabria.

After a year, he trained in the local Accademia under its director Tito Angelini.

In 1865, his native province continued his stipend of 60 lire per year for three years. In 1867, he submitted his Resurrection of Lazarus and a Cain to an exposition in Rome.

He moved to Florence by 1869, and spent the remainder of his career there. As a young man, he completed a Conte Ugolino bought by Marchese Agostino Sergio.

Among his other works are:

Tears and Flowers (1864)

Moses in Anger smashes the Tablets with the Commandments (1864, Capodimonte)

Christ nell"Orto (1865)

Masaniello (1866, Accademia)

Eve (1869, Florence)

Gioachino Rossinibust (1869, Florence)

Ariadne abandoned (1870)

Il Genio di Michelangelo for Baron di Talleyrand.

Venere Mendicante

The Fallen Angels (1893).

Achievements

• He won a number of contests in his Naples.