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Vincenzo Vela Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Vincenzo Vela our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Vincenzo Vela · 1820 – 1891

Bust of Tommaso Calosso

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 35 x 52 cm

Admire Vincenzo Vela’s neoclassical bust of Tommaso Calosso – a stunning white marble sculpture showcasing exquisite detail & timeless elegance. Explore Italian art history!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$20135 × 52 cm Commission at original size

Bust of Torquato Tasso

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 59 x 85 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$29659 × 85 cm Commission at original size

Three Bathers. Portrait of the Daughters of Marquis Ala Ponzone

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 116 x 168 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$717116 × 168 cm Commission at original size

Spartacus

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 80 x 208 cm

Admire Vincenzo Vela’s neoclassical sculpture 'Spartacus,' a dynamic marble figure embodying strength & defiance. Explore this 19th-century masterpiece!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$63480 × 208 cm Commission at original size

Bust of Christopher Columbus

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 32 x 65 cm

Own a stunning hand-painted replica of Vincenzo Vela’s Bust of Christopher Columbus (1820-1891). This plaster bust captures Columbus' surprised expression – a timeless piece for art collectors.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$20932 × 65 cm Commission at original size

Bust of the dancer Boschetti

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 51 x 79 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$26751 × 79 cm Commission at original size

Bust of Count Giovanni d

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 58 x 85 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$29358 × 85 cm Commission at original size

Doleful

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 76 x 165 cm

Admire Vincenzo Vela’s ‘Doleful,’ a neoclassical marble sculpture of sorrowful beauty. Explore its classical style, intricate carving & melancholic atmosphere – a unique art piece.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$51576 × 165 cm Commission at original size

Bust of General Henri Dufour

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 64 x 74 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$28764 × 74 cm Commission at original size

Portrait of the Young Contess Eugenia Attendolo Bolognini / Maiden with nest

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 52 x 118 cm

Admire Vincenzo Vela’s neoclassical marble sculpture, 'Maiden with Nest.' A serene depiction of youthful innocence & nature, showcasing subtractive carving in Switzerland.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$32852 × 118 cm Commission at original size

Bust of Katharina Bavier von Sprecher

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 49 x 82 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$26649 × 82 cm Commission at original size

Doleful Science

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 141 x 184 cm

Explore 'Doleful Science' by Vincenzo Vela – a neoclassical marble sculpture group embodying domesticity & intellect. Discover this 19th-century masterpiece at Museo Vela, Switzerland.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$953184 × 141 cm Commission at original size

Dante Alighieri

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 48 x 159 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17725 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$37248 × 159 cm Commission at original size

Monument to Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 166 x 183 cm

A sophisticated sculpture of Camillo Benso by Vincenzo Vela captures an elegant historical mood through intricate plaster details, offering a timeless piece for collectors to explore and bring into their own space.

View the artwork

Spartacus

1847 · Museo Vela, Ligornetto

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17719 × 54 cm Commission this artwork

Mantelpiece Mirror with Female Nudes

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 153 x 155 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$839155 × 153 cm Commission at original size

Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 140 x 330 cm

Admire Vincenzo Vela’s 'Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II'. A neoclassical masterpiece! Explore this 140x330cm plaster statue's history & artistry. #art #sculpture #history

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Morning Prayer

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 59 x 139 cm

Admire Vincenzo Vela’s ‘Morning Prayer,’ a stunning Renaissance-inspired marble sculpture. Explore this neoclassical masterpiece – a serene depiction of devotion & craftsmanship.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$38959 × 139 cm Commission at original size

Funerary Monument of Antonio Rosmini

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 84 x 167 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$55884 × 167 cm Commission at original size

Funerary Monument of Maddalena Adami Bozzi

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 107 x 124 cm

Admire Vincenzo Vela’s monumental funerary monument! This neoclassical marble sculpture captures grief & remembrance with stunning realism. Explore 19th-century Swiss art.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22726 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$586107 × 124 cm Commission at original size

The Glag-Bearer, Monument to the Sardinian Army

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 200 x 387 cm

Admire Vincenzo Vela’s ‘The Glag-Bearer,’ a neoclassical marble statue of a Sardinian army officer. Explore its classical style, detailed craftsmanship & historical significance.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Italy Grateful to France

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 145 x 199 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$987145 × 199 cm Commission at original size

Doleful Harmony

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 140 x 199 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$958140 × 199 cm Commission at original size

Desolation

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 70 x 120 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$39570 × 120 cm Commission at original size

The Victims of Labour

Museo Vincenzo Vela, Ligornetto · original 332 x 255 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 31 artworks by Vincenzo Vela
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Vincenzo Vela

1820 – 1891

Quick facts

Top-ranked workBust of Tommaso Calosso
Typical colorsputty
NationalitySwitzerland
Corpus themesclassical ideals, patriotic themes, neoclassical ideals, swiss-italian identity
Art period19th Century
Lifespan71 years
Copyright statusPublic domain
Died1891

Biography

The Sculptural Legacy of Vincenzo Vela

Born amidst the serene landscapes of Ligornetto, Switzerland, in 1820, Vincenzo Vela emerged as a profound voice in nineteenth-century sculpture, bridging the gap between classical idealism and a burgeoning naturalism. His artistic journey was one of movement and refinement, beginning with foundational training in Viggiù before his ambitions drew him to the vibrant cultural epicenter of Milan. It was here, amidst the soaring heights of the Milan Cathedral and within the prestigious halls of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, that Vela began to forge a style that would eventually resonate far beyond the borders of his Swiss-Italian heritage. His early years were marked by a rigorous academic discipline, yet beneath the surface of his formal training, a revolutionary spirit was beginning to stir.

The evolution of Vela’s technique was deeply shaped by the influence of Lorenzo Bartolini, whose naturalistic approach offered an alternative to the rigid, often sterile perfection of traditional neoclassicisms. Embracing this shift, Vela moved away from the idealized, timeless figures of antiquity toward a more humanized representation, often depicting subjects in contemporary dress. This transition allowed him to capture the breath and vitality of his era, imbuing his marble and plaster with an unprecedented sense of life. His rise in prominence was further accelerated by the support of Francesco Hayez, a pivotal figure who helped secure prestigious commissions from the liberal aristocracy and the rising bourgeoisie of Lombardy. Through these connections, Vela’s work became intertwined with the political pulse of Italy, often weaving subtle patriotic themes into his compositions to reflect the complex socio-political landscape of the Risorgimento.

Mastery of Form and Patriotic Resonance

Vela’s repertoire is a testament to his versatility, ranging from the dramatic intensity of historical figures to the quiet dignity of funerary monuments. One of his most enduring achievements is the plaster cast of Spartacus, a work that captures the raw, legendary power of the Thracian gladiator, showcasing his ability to convey profound emotion through physical tension and anatomical precision. Similarly, his depiction of Rizpah after Niobe demonstrates a masterful command over biblical narrative, utilizing sculptural relief to evoke deep pathos and classical tragedy. His talent for portraiture also allowed him to immortalize the faces of his time, creating works that served as both personal tributes and historical records.

Beyond the individual subject, Vela’s work often carried a heavy weight of social and historical significance. He possessed a unique ability to translate collective memory into stone, most notably seen in his naturalistic relief dedicated to the 199 workers who perished during the construction of the Gotthard rail tunnel—a poignant tribute to the human cost of industrial progress. His later career, which included a distinguished professorship at the Accademia Albertina in Turin, saw him further refining his ability to blend monumental scale with intimate detail. Whether capturing the somber reflection of Napoleon’s final days or the stoic grace of a memorial, Vela’s sculptures remain enduring symbols of an era caught between the reverence for the past and the urgent, unfolding reality of the modern world.

Today, the legacy of Vincenzo Vela is preserved through his immense contributions to European art history. His works serve as vital touchstones in museums such as the Museo Vela in Ligornetto, where his sculptures and paintings continue to offer profound insights into the technical mastery and emotional depth of a true master. Through his ability to marry the elegance of classical form with the raw truth of human experience, Vela remains a cornerstone of nineteenth-century sculptural achievement.

Questions & Answers

What colors did Vincenzo Vela use most often?

Vincenzo Vela's use of color across the works listed on this website can be studied on the artist's Palette Genome page.

How did Vincenzo Vela's art evolve over time?

A chronological account of Vincenzo Vela's work is available on the artist's Chronicle page, where the artworks pass in order of creation, chapter by chapter.

What are the birthplace and birth year of Vincenzo Vela?

Vincenzo Vela was born in Ligornetto in 1820.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Aug. 31, 2026

Collector's quiz

Where was the sculptor Vincenzo Vela born?
Which artist's naturalistic approach influenced Vela's early work?
At which academy did Vela enroll in 1832?
Which famous gladiator is depicted in one of Vela's notable plaster casts?
In which city did Vela serve as a professor at the Accademia Albertina?

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A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

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Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

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