BENVENUTO, (1500-1570), was born at Florence, where his ancestors had long been known as architects and musicians. His father, who was a musician, designed him for the same profession with himself, and endeavoured to thwart the inclination of Benvenuto for sculpture and engraving. When he had reached the age of fifteen, his youthful predilection had become too strong to be resisted, and his father reluctantly gave his consent to his becoming apprenticed to a goldsmith. In this capacity he soon distinguished himself by his superior skill in chasing sword-handles, cutting dies, and engraving medals. He had already attracted considerable admiration in his native place, when, being implicated in a fatal fray with some of his companions, he was banished to Siena, from which he soon after removed to Rome. A beautiful gold medal of Clement VIII., of which he was known to have furnished the die, secured him a favourable reception at the papal court, and gained him abundant employment in cutting seals for his ecclesiastical patrons. On his return to Florence, his violent temper again embroiled him in a quarrel, which again compelled him to retreat in disguise to Rome. In the war with France, which broke out immediately after, the bravery and address of Cellini proved of signal service to the pontiff; and his exploits paved the way for a reconciliation with the Florentine magistrates, and his return shortly after to his native place. Here he assiduously devoted himself to the execution of medals, the most famous of which are Hercules and the Nemean lion, and Atlas supporting the sphere. From Florence he went to the court of the Duke of Mantua, and thence again to Rome, from which he quickly fled to Naples to shelter himself from the consequences of a duel in which he was a party. Through the influence of several of the cardinals he obtained a pardon; and on the elevation of Paul III. to the pontifical throne he was reinstated in his former dignities, notwithstanding a fresh homicide which he had committed in the interregnum. Once more the plots of Pier Luigi, a natural son of Paul III., led to his retreat from Rome, and once more he was restored with greater honour than before. On returning from a visit to the court of Francis I., he was imprisoned on a charge of embezzlement during the war, but was liberated at the intercession of Cardinal Bembo, to whom he presented a splendid cup. For a while he wrought at the court of Francis I.; but the intrigues of the king's favourites, whom he would not stoop to conciliate, and could not venture to silence by the sword, as he had his enemies at Rome, led him to retire in disgust to Florence, where he employed his time in works of art. During the war with Siena, Cellini was appointed to strengthen the defences of his native city, and continued to gain the admiration of his fellow-citizens by the magnificent works which he contributed to its decoration. He was buried with great pomp in the church of the S. Annunziata. Besides the works in gold and silver which have been alluded to, Cellini executed several pieces of sculpture on a grander scale. The most distinguished of these is the bronze group of Perseus cutting off the head of Medusa, placed in front of the old ducal palace at Florence. Nothing, however, is more highly characteristic of Cellini than his autobiography, in which his adventures, pursuits and passions are depicted with the utmost naïveté and good humour. It has been translated into English by Thos. Roscoe. Several of Cellini's writings, however, still exist in manuscript.