Luigi Pagani 

Biography of Luigi Pagani  ( 1837-1904 )

Born in Bergamo, Luigi Pagani entered the city's Accademia Carrara in 1850 in the drawing class. Two years later, he exhibited a series of graphic works at the Academy and asked to be admitted to the sculpture class for the year 1853-1854. Between 1853 and 1855 he made several sculptures for the altar and the choir of the church of Sainte Anne.
He entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Brera in the class of Benedetto Cacciatori in 1854 and won the Sanquirico prize at the end of his first year. During his training, he continued to exhibit works in Bergamo and won numerous awards in Brera in 1857 and 1859. 

In 1861 he won the first prize of the governmental institution with his plaster bust "Jesus in the Garden" kept in the Gallery of Modern Art in Milan since 1902. In 1864 he was commissioned to create 14 stucco bas-reliefs for the Stations of the Cross in the newly built Chapel of the Holy Cross near the Cathedral of Bergamo.
Among his works are the stone statue of St. Claudius for the Duomo of Milan in 1866, a monumental angel for the church of Caprino and four angels for the church of the Graces of Bergamo in 1867. That year he exhibited The Poor Fornaretto at the Universal Exhibition in Paris.

From 1870, he intensified his participation in exhibitions throughout Italy, in Milan, Naples, Bergamo; but also abroad, in Porto in 1865, Paris in 1867 and 1878, Nice at the International Exhibition in 1884, and London at the Royal Academy in 1872 (with our two sculptures Selika and Nesuko), then at the Royal Glasgow Institute in 1876. Remaining faithful to his native region, he systematically exhibited at the Brera Salon every year from 1866 to 1876 and again from 1879 to 1881.

The sculptor was named Knight of the Crown of the Kingdom of Italy in 1880, became a member of the University of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Bergamo in 1890 and was an honorary member of the Academy of Milan until 1892.
Recognized as an academic sculptor of great talent, Luigi Pagani is one of the best representatives of the school of Milan who knew how to combine a flawless technique with the classical subjects requested by his patrons, showing all his talent as a portraitist and a real attention to detail.