Giacomo Raffaelli (1753 – 1836) was the most famous 18th century mosaicist. In 1775 he created the micro-mosaic, a technique he used to recreate Leonardo’s Last Supper. His work is preserved in the most important museums and collections in the world.
G.Raffaelli – Last supper (detail)
Clelia Raffaelli (O.Amato,1929)
His descendent, Clelia Raffaelli, was Giuseppe Ceccarelli’s mother. Ceccarius received the Raffaelli Family Archive now preserved by the Negro Foundation.
The Archive is a unicum of great historical and artistic importance. It contains documentation about over one hundred years (mid-18th century to mid-19thcentury) of work undertaken by Giacomo Raffaelli and his son Vincenzo. Due to its significance, the Archive has been placed under the aegis of the Ministry for Cultural Heritage since 2007.
The foundation promotes conferences and studies dedicated to Giacomo Raffaelli and to the micro-mosaic.
The archive contains interesting references to homeopathy and to the 19th century cholera epidemic.
Archive consultations are reserved to scholars requesting it (Dr. Laura Biancini – l.biancini@gmail.com).
For Giacomo Raffaelli’s biography see: M.Alfieri – New notes on Giacomo Raffaelli. In: The Gilbert Collection Micromosaics – Philip Wilson Pub. London 2000
G.Raffaelli
Atto di nascita
1753
Disegni per mosaico
1790
Lettera di Melzi D’Eryl 1808
Descrizione di orologio
1814
Passaporto per Vienna 1818
Inventory in progress