Giovanni Antonio Amadeo
Giovanni Antonio Amadeo (c. 1447 – 27 or 28 August 1522) was an
Biography
Amadeo was born in Pavia.[2] Starting from 1460, he trained under the master Francesco Solari.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Bergamo_colleoni_detail.jpg/240px-Bergamo_colleoni_detail.jpg)
In 1466 he was engaged as a sculptor, with his brother Protasio, by Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza to work at the famous Certosa, near Pavia. While engaged at the Certosa, he executed the beautiful door leading from the church into the cloister, still known as "the door of Amadeo".[3] During 1473–1476, Amadeo realized half of the bas-reliefs in the right side of the façade.
In 1470 he was commissioned by Bartolomeo Colleoni to complete his funerary chapel, the Cappella Colleoni in Bergamo, which had been begun by Guiniforte and Francesco Solari.[2] Amadeo added polychrome decoration and many sculptures in the ancient style including medallions, small columns, busts, reliefs of "Histories from the Old Testament" and "Histories of Hercules".
Amadeo also designed the funerary monument to Medea Colleoni, which was intended for the church of Santa Maria della Basella in
In 1480 he finished the arch of the Persian Martyrs in the Olivetani Monastery of Cremona (four marble reliefs remain today, dated 1484). Also attributed to him are two statues of Justice and Temperance in Cremona, and reliefs in the National Antiquity Museum of Parma.
On the death of Guiniforte Solari in 1481, Amadeo had been temporarily appointed to succeed him as head architect of the Certosa, and was commissioned to make a fresh design for the façade, with the assistance of Benedetto Briosco, Antonio della Porta, and Stefano di Sesto. But it was not till 1490, when he was confirmed in his office, that he made the design which was accepted, and which was subsequently carried out by him and his successors.[3]
Amadeo ran a sizeable workshop and undertook a number of projects for members of the Sforza family. In 1485 he collaborated with his brother-in-law
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Giovanni_Antonio_Amadeo%2C_Kneeling_Angel%2C_c._1447-1552%2C_NGA_462.jpg/220px-Giovanni_Antonio_Amadeo%2C_Kneeling_Angel%2C_c._1447-1552%2C_NGA_462.jpg)
Amadeo was then active in the decoration of the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/2014-01-01-Pavia_Certosa.jpg/220px-2014-01-01-Pavia_Certosa.jpg)
From 1497 he directed works at the Milan Cathedral, finishing the tambour in 1500.
In the 16th century, Amadeo designed the church of
The notable façade of the Cathedral of Lugano, considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, has also been attributed to Amadeo.
He died in Milan in 28 August 1522.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Leader, Anne. "This Day in History: August 28", Italian Art Society
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-860678-9.
- ^ a b Poole, Thomas. "Giovanni Antonio Amadeo." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ISBN 0-14-051323-X.
- ^ Parrocchia di San Lanfranco.
- ^ Sannazzaro, G.B. (1993). L'Amodeo e S. Maria alla Fontana.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Giovanni Antonio Amadeo". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Sources
- Ticozzi, Stefano (1830). Dizionario degli architetti, scultori, pittori, intagliatori in rame ed in pietra, coniatori di medaglie, musaicisti, niellatori, intarsiatori d’ogni etá e d’ogni nazione. Vol. 1. Gaetano Schiepatti. p. 46. Retrieved Jan 24, 2007 – via Google Books.
External links
- Metropolitan Museum of Art.org: Leonardo da Vinci: anatomical drawings from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle (online PDF) — exhibition catalog with material on Giovanni Antonio Amadeo (see index).
- Cork.com: Renaissance sculptors
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)