Fermo Forti

His father Giuseppe, a master mason, encouraged his son's artistic education by enrolling him in drawing classes at the local "Scuola Elementare Comunale di Disegno".

In 1857, thank to grant from the municipality, he was able to study at the Accademia Atestina di Belle Arti [it] in Modena, under the direction of Adeodato Malatesta.

In 1874, together with Lelio Rossi (1844–1907) and Albano Lugli, he embarked on a project to decorate the Carpi Cathedral, which would occupy him on and off for twenty years.

The following year, he was appointed to the "Municipal Commission of Homeland History and Fine Arts of Carpi", and later served as a City Councilor there.

His other works include "The Gorgonian Martyrs" (1874) for the Church of San Niccolò [it] in Carpi, "Purification of the Virgin" (1875) for the church of Panzano in Campogalliano, "Saint Anthony" for the former convent of San Rocco de Carpi, as well as sculptures in terracotta of the "Ascended Madonna" (1906), preserved in the Museo civico at the Castello dei Pio [it].