A Sicilian Hand Shaping Marble: The Life and Art of Simone Tommaso Manfredi Martinez Simone Tommaso Manfredi Martinez, a name perhaps less instantly recognizable than some of his Baroque contemporaries, nevertheless represents a compelling figure in the landscape of 18th-century Italian sculpture. Born in Messina, Sicily, in 1689, Martinez emerged from a family steeped in artistic tradition – his father, Francesco Martinez, was an *argentiere*, a silversmith, instilling in him a meticulous attention to detail that would become a hallmark of his style. However, it was the influence of his mat…