Balilla

Fedi
(attr. to Pio Fedi, Viterbo, 1816 – Florence, 1892)

"Balilla"

Expressive sculptural work, depicting the famous Genoese Balilla; patinated bronze sculpture, of beautiful large dimensions, measuring approximately 80 cm (height); title of the work and artist's signature visible at the bottom, at the base of the sculpture; probably an example conceived as a sketch for a monumental work.

(Private collection) (unauthorized reproductions are prohibited)

The Balilla
Giovan Battista Perasso (or Giambattista), known as Balilla, is a popular historical figure from 18th-century Genoa. His real identity has remained doubtful. He is identified as the young man from whom the popular revolt against the occupiers of the Habsburg empire began on December 5, 1746, in the Genoese district of Portoria. The population was incited by the boy to rise up by throwing a stone against the Austro-Piedmontese troops who, under the command of the plenipotentiary minister Antoniotto Botta Adorno, occupied the city, at that time allied with the French and Spanish. On December 10, 1746, the city was thus liberated from the Austrian troops. The arrogance of the Austrian soldiers, who demanded to be helped to extract a piece of artillery from the mud, was the fuse that ignited the decisive - for the fate of Genoa - popular revolt. (...) (from the web)