Rinaldo Bonanno (1545-1600) was an Italian sculptor. Born in Raccuja, he is notable for his work in Sicily in the second half of the 16th century. His whole oeuvre was heavily influenced by the Tuscan tradition and the style of Michelangelo, but combined these with elements of the late Gothic style (as seen in the expressive drapery) and influences from the work of Gagini. Francesco Abbate, Storia dell'arte nell'Italia meridionale, Volume 3, Donzelli Editore, 2001. Despite his 'archaizing' traits, he is considered one of the best sculptors active in that era in Sicily.
Life A pupil of Giovanni Agnolo and Martino da Messina and then from 1577 of Martino Montanini (who in 1577 became Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli's successor as head of the works on the Duomo) Domenico Ligresti Sicilia aperta (secoli XV-XVII). Mobilità di uomini e idee, 2006 Gioacchino di Marzo, "I Gagini e la scultura in Sicilia nei secoli XV e XVI; memorie storiche e documenti", Conte Antonio Cavagna Sangiuliani di Gualdana Lazelada di Bereguardo, Volume I e II, Palermo, Stamperia del Giornale di Sicilia., page 803
In 1580 he also worked at Massa for prince Alberico Cibo and in Carrara on the construction of the Grondine canal. Gioacchino di Marzo, op cit, pages 585 and 803 He also produced several wood and marble sculptures for churches in Sicily and southern Calabria. He married the daughter of Andrea Calamech and followed in that artist's footsteps by becoming not only a sculptor but also an architect, producing designs for works such as the facade of the Madre church in Alì (1584) and stage sets.
Works Province of Messina
Province of Reggio Calabria
References
Bibliography Michael Kiene, Michela D’Angelo, Massimo Lo Curzio, 1823 Hittorff a Messina. La scoperta di una città nuova, EDAS La Volta, Collana di Studi e Progetti di Architettura, Messina 2017. , pp. 192–214. . In particular see: F. Galletta, Cronaca di una scoperta/Post Scriptum, pp. 192–198; F. Galletta, Un luogo di delizie, pp. 199–206; F. Sondrio, Una storia che continua, pp. 207–214.