Бенвенуто

Da Cagli One of the judges who pass sentence on Benvenuto, accuses him of absconding with 80,000 crowns worth of precious gems from the Vatican treasures.

Conversini Another judge, relishes the comeuppance they deliver to Benvenuto, whom he decries as a brutal, prideful lout and killer.

Pope Clement VII Seen in flashback, he recognizes Benvenuto’s abilities and entreats him to help save his Papacy by helping him remove the Papal jewels before they are overrun.

Cavalierino One of Clement VII’s confidantes, he recommends Benvenuto’s talents as a goldsmith to the Pope. As Benvenuto removes the jewels from the Papal treasures, Cavalierino sews them into the Pope’s robes.

Pagolo 15, one of Benvenuto’s apprentices, entreats Dorothea to tell them where the treasure is located, but to no avail. He accompanies his master as he relocates to France to make his name.

Asconio 15, one of Benvenuto’s apprentices, entreats Dorothea to tell them where the treasure is located, but to no avail. He accompanies his master as he relocates to France to make his name.

Pope Paul The current Pope, father of illegitimate son Pier Luigi, who imprisons Benvenuto but knows the reason Pier is so passionate about avenging Pompeo’s death is because Pier was sexually involved with him. He warns Pier to stop having relations with men as the Protestants will use it against them.

Pallavicini 61, Protestant, the kindly but wily monk who shares the cell with Benvenuto. After hearing of Francois I’s interest in Benvenuto, he urges his friend to escape before they kill him, and he aids him in this endeavor. He is later assassinated by Pier Luigi’s henchman, Oracio.

Giovanni Strapping young son of Pallavicini, also protestant, is the one who kills Pier Luigi to avenge Pallavicini’s murder.

Count of St. Paul He tells Francois and Madame D’Etampes that Cardinal Ferrara is only helping out as he wants Francois’ support in the next election of Pope.

Oracio Soldier present at the sack of Rome and now working in concert with Pier Luigi, goes after Benvenuto and his apprentices with an eye for murder. They escape his clutches, but he succeeds in killing Pallavicini.

King of Navarre Accompanies Francois I and his entourage in viewing the uncompleted statue of Mars in Benvenuto’s workshop

Francoisco Primaticcio An artist in competition with Benvenuto. Benvenuto challenges him and though he tries to be strong, Benvenuto is more the man than he. Still, with the aid of Madame D’Etampes, who is now Benvenuto’s sworn enemy, he earns the King’s favor and wins commissions over Benvenuto.

Matteo A friend of Benvenuto’s from the old days in Italy.

Duke & Duchess Benvenuto humbly entreats them to give him the commission he so lusts after, an opportunity to work in sculpture on a grand scale ala Michelangelo’s “David”.

Bandinello Court sculptor to the Duke and Duchess. He enjoys Benvenuto’s fall from grace, but Benvenuto’s abrupt manner leads to an embarrassing airing out of Bandinello’s shortcomings in front of his patrons.

Property Viability

Movies such as Quills come to mind in seeking a comparison to this film, as it too was about an irascible historical character destined for greatness. Benvenuto’s story has one thing lacking, that is his own lack of historical significance, at least in our eyes, but that also works to the story’s advantage in some ways. It’s easier to sympathize with a protagonist living in the shadow of greatness that one destined for greatness, and in this case we’re following a sculptor living during the time of the greatest sculptor in the history of man. It’d be like following a playwright’s efforts to get produced while Shakespeare was alive and kicking. It instantly makes Benvenuto an underdog which is ironic in the face of his arrogance and unshakeable self-confidence.

The many scenes of court intrigue and people both working for Benvenuto and against him add a delicious layer of gossip and politics to the story, and it helps anchor the film in its setting as we realize the extent to which anyone’s ascendancy back then was tied to the whims of royalty. Benvenuto’s life was a rollercoaster of ups and downs and of course this lends drama to the proceedings throughout; we come to see him as his own worst enemy but of course that’s something all of us can relate to. The fact that he really can deliver works of artistic genius makes him noble in the end and allows us to forgive him for his passionate self-centeredness.