By virtue of his family background, Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi enjoyed the patronage of the Medici princes. After attending the Medici’s school for drawing in Florence, Grand Duke Cosimo III de Medici sent him to Rome for four years and thereafter to Paris, to have him trained as a medal-coiner. At the time his medallion portraits attracted much attention and both Christina of Sweden and Louis XIV made overtures to the young artist. But Soldani-Benzi returned to Florence and was appointed Director of the Granducal Mint. He was the finest bronze caster in late 17th century Europe.

Soldani’s workshop was located in the Galleria degli Uffizi. His reliefs, figures and busts were often modelled on classical antiquity. For Prince Johann Adam Andreas I of Liechtenstein Soldani created copies of old masterpieces from Florentine collections, such as sculptures by Michelangelo and Giambologna. He also produced works from his own designs