CAFFIERI. - Family of French sculptors of Italian origin.
The founder, DANIELE, b. at Sorrento in 1603, d. in 1639, was an engineer in the service of Urban VIII; his son FILIPPO, b. in Rome in 1634, d. in Paris on 7 Sept. 1716, went to France in 1660, and worked in decoration, especially in collaboration with Le Brun; in 1687 he was appointed sculptor of the king's vessels at Le Havre. Filippo had 11 children, and of these, FRANCESCO CARLO, b. in Paris on 26 July 1667, d. at Brest on 27 Apr. 1729, worked first with his father at Versailles and then at Le Havre and at Dunkirk as draughtsman and sculptor of the king's vessels, while the tenth son, GIACOMO, b. in Paris on 25 Aug. 1678, d. there on 23 Nov. 1755, left many bronze busts and worked especially as a carver of furniture. Of the latter's seven children, FILIPPO, b. in Paris on 19 Feb. 1714, d. there on 8 Oct. 1774, besides collaborating with his father in carving, left a reputation as a chaser; his brother GIAN GIACOMO (b. in Paris on 30 Apr. 1725, d. there on 21 May 1792) is certainly to be considered the best artist of the family. He was in Rome at the French Academy from 1749 to 53 and then in Naples and other Italian cities. Under the influence of Bernini, he left in Rome, on the high altar of S. Luigi dei Francesi, the stucco group of the Trinity; among numerous busts he executed those of Lulli, Corneille, Molière, and Rousseau.