Francesco Mochi

Happy Birthday Francesco Mochi!! Said to create the first Baroque sculpture, Mochi was born in 1580 in Italy. This piece is his Annunciation group and was finished in 1609 for the Orvieto Cathedral. In addition, he sculpted equestrian statues in Piacenza and his most famous, St. Veronica, at St. Peter’s. This huge statue is one of four saints, the other three sculpted by Bernini, Bolgi, and Duquesnoy. St. Veronica was a woman Christ healed and then later wiped His brow on His way to Calgary. The veil she used is said to bear the imprint of Christ's face and so is an important relic displayed there on Holy days. Veronica is so called since the name means "true icon".