Biography
Vincenzo Pacetti was born in 1746. He studied at the Accademia del Nudo and then trained in the studio of the sculptor-restorer, Pietro Pacili, 1766–72, taking over Pacili's studio at the elder sculptor's death.
As an independent sculptor he was accepted into the Accademia di San Luca, presenting his portrait (illustration) and serving as director, a testament to his reputation. Bartolomeo Cavaceppi, another leading sculptor-restorer esteemed Pacetti enough to make him executor of his will.
From the Barberini, Pacetti was promised the purchase of a cache of Roman sculptures and fragments in 1799, among which prominently figured the Barberini Faun. He removed earlier restorations and sculpted a new right leg in marble, but the members of the Barberini family withdrew their offer of sale, and Pacetti was reimbursed the sum of 2000 zecchini.
As the favoured sculptor-restorer for Prince Marcantonio Borghese, he also produced many reliefs and stucci on mythological themes for the Sala degli Imperatori (of which "The goat Amanthea" and "Perseus freeing Andromeda" are most notable) and the room housing Bernini's Aeneas and Anchises and Apollo and Daphne, both at the Galleria Borghese. Other works of his are in San Salvatore in Lauro, Santo Spirito in Sassia, Santi Michele e Magno, and the Palazzo Carpegna.
In the latter end of his career his most important patron was Lucien Bonaparte, for whom he supplied plaster casts of famous antique sculptures for his villa at Canino.
He died in Rome. His diary covering the years 1773-1803, and correspondence are important primary resources for the Roman art market of his day.
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