Luigi Del Bianco
Luigi Del Bianco on Mount Rushmore
BornMay 8, 1892
Meduno, Italy
DiedJanuary 20, 1969(1969-01-20) (aged 76)
Port Chester, U.S.
NationalityItalian
CitizenshipItalian
American
Known forSculpture

Luigi Del Bianco (May 8, 1892 - January 20, 1969) was an Italian-American sculptor, and chief carver of Mount Rushmore.[1]

Early life and education

Bianco was born on a ship near Le Havre, France, on May 8, 1892, to Vincenzo and Osvalda Del Bianco, who were returning from the United States to Italy.[1] He showed interest in carving at a young age, and spent time in Austria and Venice studying the art.[2]

Career

When Bianco was 18 years old, he left for America, arriving in Barre, Vermont.[2]

When World War I broke out, Bianco returned to Italy and fought for his home country, eventually returning to Vermont in 1920. Bianco's brother-in-law introduced him to Mount Rushmore designer Gutzon Borglum, and Bianco began working at Borglum's studio.[2]

In 1933, Borglum hired Bianco as chief stone carver on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Paid $1.50 an hour, Bianco was charged with carving the detail in the faces. He carved Abraham Lincoln's eyes, and patched a dangerous crack in Thomas Jefferson's lip.[2]

Borglum constantly praised Bianco for his great abilities as a classically trained stone carver: "He is worth any three men in America for this particular type of work." "He is the only intelligent, efficient stone carver on the work who understands the language of the sculptor." "We could double our progress if we had two like Bianco."

Before Mount Rushmore Bianco worked on Stone Mountain and Wars of America memorial with Borglum.[3]

On September 16, 2017, the National Park Service unveiled a memorial plaque at Mount Rushmore. The plaque acknowledged Luigi Del Bianco's crucial role as the only chief carver on the work.

References

  1. 1 2 Roberts, Sam (28 June 2016). "An Immigrant's Contribution to Mount Rushmore is Recognized, 75 Years Later". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "About Luigi Del Bianco". Luigi Del Bianco. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  3. ↑ "About Luigi del Bianco |".

Further reading

  • Del Bianco, Lou (2017). Out of Rushmore's Shadow: The Luigi Del Bianco Story. Niche Content Press. ISBN 978-0998998725.
  • Gladstone, Douglas J. (2014). Carving a Niche for Himself: The Untold Story of Luigi Del Bianco and Mount Rushmore. Bordighera Press. ISBN 9781599540672.
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