John Raffanello: An American Sculptor Finding Home near Cortona

Classical inspiration, Italian roots and everyday connections have shaped the artist’s new life in Tuscany.

John Raffanello is an American sculptor living near Cortona, Tuscany. With more than 37 years of experience in sculpture and Italian Renaissance-inspired wooden furniture, he has created a home and studio where he continues to explore classical forms through contemporary ideas.

His move to Italy began with a family decision. It developed into a story of creativity, belonging and the everyday encounters that turn an unfamiliar place into home.

John Raffanello at a glance

• Background: American artist with Italian ancestry.
• Based: Near Cortona, Tuscany.
• Creative practice: Sculpture, painting and Renaissance-inspired wooden furniture.
• Artistic interests: Classical sculpture, the human figure and contemporary interpretations of traditional proportions.

From the United States to Italy

John’s decision to move to Italy began with his son, Joe.

After three years studying art in Florence, Joe had developed a strong attachment to the country and wanted to build his future there. John, who had spent many years raising him as a single father, decided to make the move too.

Today, Joe lives in Ferrara with his own family, while John has settled in the countryside near Cortona.

Finding the right property took three years. Once John found his house, he began creating the workshop and studio that would give him space to continue his artistic practice.

Creating an Artist’s Home and Studio near Cortona

For John, choosing a home meant finding somewhere he could live and work.

His studio brings together sculptures, paintings, tools and carefully crafted wooden furniture. It is a working space where pieces develop gradually, sometimes over months or years.

Living in Tuscany has also brought John closer to the Italian artistic heritage that has long influenced his work. Classical sculpture and Renaissance craftsmanship provide a foundation from which he develops his own ideas.

That relationship between tradition and experimentation runs through his practice, from furniture inspired by historical designs to sculptures that reconsider the proportions of the human body.

Classical Sculpture with a Contemporary Perspective

The human figure is central to John Raffanello’s sculpture, particularly the female form.

In works such as Lady Nightshade, he experiments with elongated arms, legs and thighs. These changes give the figure a distinctive character while retaining a connection to classical sculpture.

His intention is to create work that encourages people to pause, look again and consider what they see.

A Process That Takes Time

John’s sculptures develop at their own pace. A piece may take seven months to complete, while larger works can evolve over several years.

He sometimes sets a sculpture aside before returning to it with a fresh perspective. A detail that once seemed resolved may suggest another possibility months later.

One statue stands beside the front door of his home. Each time John passes it, he has another opportunity to notice a line or a small adjustment he would like to make.

For him, a sculpture can remain a work in progress long after it first appears complete.

Finding Community through Everyday Life in Tuscany

Building a life near Cortona has involved much more than setting up a studio. Ordinary errands have helped John become part of the local community.

Sculpting is dusty, physical work, and his clothes and boots often show it. During one visit, his son questioned whether John should go to the supermarket while still dressed for the workshop.

John went anyway.

The curious looks he remembers receiving soon turned into conversations. Those encounters helped him meet people and become a familiar local presence, affectionately known as “the sculptor of the village”.

It is a small episode that captures how a sense of belonging can develop: through repeated encounters, shared curiosity and a willingness to start talking.

Learning Italian at the Ferramenta

The local ferramenta, or hardware shop, has provided its own memorable moments.

John knows the technical vocabulary of his craft in English, but finding the right Italian term sometimes takes improvisation.

On one occasion, he asked for biscotti, translating the American woodworking term “biscuits” directly into Italian. The request sounded as though he wanted something to eat.

Laughter followed before everyone worked out which item he needed.

The staff now know him well. A misunderstanding became another opportunity to build a relationship with the people around him.

Discovering His Italian Family Roots

John’s connection to Italy also grew through his family’s interest in their ancestry.

While Joe was pursuing Italian citizenship, the family began exploring their Italian roots more closely. According to John’s account, their research revealed connections to Puglia and, further north, to Tuscany and the area around Castiglion Fiorentino.

Having already chosen to settle near Cortona, John found particular meaning in this discovery.

The area where he was building a new life also held a connection to his family’s past. It added another dimension to the attachment he was developing through his work, his home and his local friendships.

A Creative Life in the Cortona Countryside

John Raffanello’s story brings together art, family and the gradual experience of settling somewhere new.

The major decisions brought him to Italy. The smaller moments helped him feel at home: finding space for his studio, talking to fellow shoppers, learning unfamiliar words and becoming a regular face at the hardware shop.

Near Cortona, he continues to develop work shaped by classical inspiration and his own artistic curiosity.

And beside his front door, a sculpture still offers the possibility of one more adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions about John Raffanello

Who is John Raffanello?

John Raffanello is an American sculptor with Italian roots who lives near Cortona, Tuscany. His creative practice includes sculpture, painting and Italian Renaissance-inspired wooden furniture.

What inspires John Raffanello’s sculptures?

His sculptures draw on classical Italian art and the human figure. He explores contemporary interpretations through changes in proportion, including elongated limbs.

Why did John Raffanello move to Italy?

John moved to Italy with his adult son, Joe, who wanted to remain in the country after studying art in Florence. John later established his home and studio near Cortona.

How long does John take to create a sculpture?

The time varies by piece. Some sculptures take around seven months, while larger works may develop over several years as John revisits and refines them.