Giovanni Manzolini was born in Bologna in 1700. He initially worked as a shoemaker with his father and then devoted himself to painting. Wishing to specialize as a figure painter, he entered Lelli's school to learn anatomical sculpture at the age of 40. In 1743, Manzolini became assistant to the Master but left Lelli's laboratory in 1745 because he did not feel he was appreciated as an artist. Manzolini continued to work as an independent wax anatomical modeller and sculptor with the assistance of his wife. The numerous artistic works he produced included wax models of the sensory and vocal organs for the Royal Society in London; nine unspecified anatomical preparations for the King of Sardinia and his famous anatomical compendium made up of 171 parts, partly in wax (46 parts) and partly in coloured clay (125 parts). Giovanni Manzolini died in Bologna in 1755.