Monument to Caterina Campodonico, Marble tomb in Staglieno Cemetery, Italy
Monument to Caterina Campodonico is a marble work in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa that depicts the street vendor holding strings of hazelnuts and donuts, representing her life selling at markets. The figure stands among many other nineteenth-century mausoleums in the western lower portico of the cemetery.
The work was created by sculptor Lorenzo Orengo in 1881 and funded by Caterina herself using savings from decades of selling nuts at local markets. This made it a notable example of a working-class woman creating her own legacy.
The epitaph, written in Genoese dialect by poet G.B. Vigo, tells the story of a working-class woman who earned her place among wealthy burials. It shows how a street vendor from humble origins was seen and valued in her community.
The monument is located in the western lower portico of the Staglieno Cemetery and can be found among many other marble sculptures from the nineteenth century. Visitors should take time to examine the finer details of the statue carefully.
The statue shows fine detail in the subject's traditional attire, including braided hair, stone earrings, and a cross necklace set against brocade clothing. This careful craftsmanship reflects the personal importance Caterina placed on her monument.
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