Valeriano Salvatierra facts for kids

Valeriano Salvatierra was a talented Spanish sculptor. He was born on April 14, 1789, and passed away on May 24, 1836.

Early Life and Training

Valeriano grew up in Toledo, Spain. His father, Mariano Salvatierra, was also a sculptor. Valeriano learned a lot from his father first. In 1807, he went to a famous art school called the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. Later, he traveled to Rome, Italy. In Rome, he met two very famous sculptors, Canova and Thorwaldsen. Valeriano even won an award in 1813 for his sculpture called Achilles Pulling Out the Arrow. This award came from the Accademia di San Luca.

Becoming a Royal Sculptor

When Valeriano returned to Spain, he became a professor at Toledo Cathedral. He also taught at the Academia de San Fernando. In 1819, he was given an important title: honorary court sculptor to Ferdinand VII of Spain. This meant he worked for the king! After another sculptor named Ramón Barba died in 1831, Valeriano became the king's main sculptor.

From 1827, Valeriano also helped fix old sculptures at the Real Museo de Pinturas. This museum is now known as the famous Museo del Prado. He also created twelve special sculptures for the front of the museum. Valeriano Salvatierra died in Madrid in 1836.

Famous Sculptures

Valeriano Salvatierra created many important artworks during his life. Here are some of his well-known pieces:

• Crowning of the Puerta de Toledo: He worked on this project with Ramón Barba.
• Portrait of Isidoro Máiquez: This sculpture is at the Museo de la Real Academia de San Fernando.
• Portrait of the painter José Aparicio.
• Grave monument of Cardinal don Luis de Borbón y Villabriga: He sculpted this in Rome in 1824. It shows how much he was influenced by Canova and Bernini.
• Grave monument of the condesa de Chinchón: This monument is located at the Palacio de Boadilla del Monte in Madrid.

Images for kids

• 

  Grave monument of Luis María de Borbón

See also

In Spanish: Valeriano Salvatierra para niños