Raggi was born in
Carrara, Italy, where he learnt to sculpt, and won several prizes, at the local
Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara. He continued his training in Rome under
Pietro Tenerani before moving in 1850 to London, where he first worked for
Raffaelle Monti and then, for several years, for
Matthew Noble. Raggi was given some major commissions including memorials to
Benjamin Disraeli at
Parliament Square and
Gladstone for
Albert Square, Manchester. He completed three monumental statues of
Queen Victoria for Hong Kong, Toronto and Kimberley in South Africa. Raggi first exhibited a work,
Innocence at the
Royal Academy in 1854 but did not show there again until 1878, when he exhibited a portrait bust of
Admiral Rous. He continued to exhibit portrait busts at the Academy until 1895. Raggi is buried at
West Norwood Cemetery, where his memorial is a flat slab. ==Selected public works==