François Grimaldi "Malizia"

To mark the 700th anniversary of the Grimaldi dynasty, Kees Verkade was commissioned to create a sculpture of one of the founding figures of the Principality of Monaco: the Genoese François Grimaldi, known as “Malizia”. It was on 8 January 1297 that the Guelph François Grimaldi, concealing his weapons beneath his Franciscan monk disguise, captured the fortress from the Ghibellines.
To demonstrate the people’s sense of attachment to the Royal Family, a subscription was opened at Monaco City Hall. The work installed on the Place du Palais depicts François Grimaldi, “the Malicious”, just as he is about to draw his sword alongside his comrades-in-arms.

Kees Verkade, a Dutch national, was born on 12 October 1941 in Haarlem (Netherlands). After secondary school, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, where he graduated with first prize. A resident of the Principality from 1979 onwards, he participated in many joint and solo exhibitions. He was commissioned to create numerous sculptures to decorate official buildings in his native country, and also in Europe, the United States and, of course, the Principality of Monaco, which acquired several of his works. Among the Verkade sculptures to be found in Monaco are: Invitation in the Saint-Martin Gardens; Sport in front of the Louis II Stadium; a bust of Prince Louis de Polignac (the cousin of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince) in Square Beaumarchais; and First Step in front of Princess Grace Hospital.
In 1999, a retrospective devoted to the artist was held in Monaco to celebrate his forty years as an artist. That same year, Prince Rainier III awarded him the insignia of the Order of Cultural Merit and Officer of the Order of the Grimaldi. A complete retrospective of his work, titled Circle of Love, was held in 2012. Kees Verkade passed away on 29 December 2020 in Monaco. His final work, Salutifera Unitas, was commissioned by a Dutch foundation to thank the healthcare staff who worked through the coronavirus pandemic.