CALEGARI, family. — Santo, engraver and sculptor, b. in Brescia in 1662, d. in 1717. He worked in Rome under the influence of Bernini and Algardi. A skilled and quick artist in wood and stucco, he left numerous works in churches and palaces in Brescia.
Two of his sons followed in his footsteps: Alessandro, who embellished with his sculptures gardens and patrician houses in Brescia; Antonio (b. 1598, d. 1777), who adorned churches and palaces in Milan, Bologna, Cremona, Bergamo, Brescia, and Chiari. His work often reached individual character despite the signs of an easy and showy mannerism due to a superficial search for effect. He had three sons: Luca, Giuseppe, and Santo, who were also sculptors.
Bibl.: St. Fenaroli, s. V. in Diz. degli architetti bresciani, Brescia 1877, pp. 88-90; G. Nicodemi, I C. scultori bresciani del Settecento, ivi 1924.