Marcello Mortet

(Roma, 1911 - Roma, 1985)

Altezza x larghezza x profondità: 32,5 x 26,5x 17,50 cm. Peso 6180

Made in lost-wax casting by Marcello Mortet in silver 800/1000, hallmarked ‘800’ and ‘ROMA’.
The fountain, located in Piazza della Bocca della Verità in Rome, was made by Carlo Bizzaccheri on a commission from Pope Clement XI, and was placed in the square in 1715; it has an octagonal base and depicts two tritons holding a shell above their heads from which water flows. Until 1868, death sentences were carried out here.

The Mortet family, renowned for their expertise in chiseling and carving, has been active in Rome since 1891. The patriarch, Aurelio (1843-1927), born in Florence, moved to Rome with his wife Laura and their six children around 1891 due to work opportunities linked to the major construction projects of the new capital and the preparations for the 1911 World’s Fair. The family workshop, initially opened in Florence, was then established in Rome on Via Giovanni Lanza, while the family resided on Via Leopardi in the Monti district.

Aurelio passed on his passion for artistic craftsmanship to his five sons: Alfredo, Alberto, and Mario followed in his footsteps in the art of carving, while Armando and Dante specialized in chiseling, training in prestigious workshops. During the Art Nouveau period, the two chiseler brothers opened their own studios in Rome, where they stood out for significant works, such as the Door of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and sacred art commissions from architects of the era.

The line of carvers ended with Mario, the youngest, whose untimely death coincided with a decline in demand for artistic carving. In contrast, the Mortet chiseler line continued, overcoming economic challenges such as the Great Depression of 1929. After the closure of the workshop on Via Equizia, Dante began a period of itinerant work, collaborating with various Roman studios until the mid-century.

At this time, Aurelio’s nephew Marcello, son of Alberto, also began his career in craftsmanship, learning the trade in his uncles' studios. Later, he opened his own studio in Trastevere. His career was marked by prestigious silverwork, including several Roman fountains, in keeping with family tradition. He also worked for a few years in Genoa, where he handled the decoration of the Perrone family tomb, a family notable in publishing and for their ties to Ansaldo, at the Staglieno cemetery.

The tradition continued with Virgilio (1926-2019), son of Dante, who left a career in construction to join his father and later founded his own workshop on Via dei Portoghesi in the 1950s, joined by his brother Aurelio and, later, by the next generation. The "Fratelli Mortet" workshop became a hallmark of Roman craftsmanship, celebrated for works such as the Golden Pen used by Pope John XXIII to sign his first encyclical and Pope Paul VI's pectoral cross.

Over the years, the family has carried on its craft with dedication, participating in international exhibitions and contributing to the training of new chiseling talents, also in South America and Asia. In 2004, the workshop received the Historical Workshop title from the City of Rome, while the Oriolo Romano studio was recognized as an artisanal excellence by the Lazio Region.

Today, the Mortet family, now in its fifth generation, represents one of the last witnesses to an ancient artisan tradition, continuing to pass down the art of chiseling and carving. Despite current challenges, the family preserves that ancient knowledge that still contributes to the renown and appreciation of Italian craftsmanship worldwide.