Benvenuto Cellini was born in 1500 and was possibly not the nicest of men, but he was a highly skilled artist. He worked mostly as a sculptor and goldsmith active principally in his hometown, Florence.
Early in his career he worked in Rome, producing coins, medallions, seals, vessels, and a variety of other objects in precious and semiprecious metals. He also worked in the French Court of Francois I and here he created something which is considered a masterpiece, a salt cellar in gold, enamel and ivory for the French king.