Giovanni Antonio Amadeo
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Antonio Amadeo (c. 1447 – August 27 or 28, 1522) was an Italian early Renaissance
sculptor
, architect, and engineer.
Amadeo was born in Pavia
. 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
. 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 Urgnano
. The condottiero's tomb was realized in collaboration with other artists, with Amadeo providing the reliefs of the lower sarcophagus and of the smaller upper sarcophagus, as well seven statues of the Virtues.
Amadeo was also commissioned by Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza
to work for some years in the Certosa di Pavia
. During 1473-1476, Amadeo realized half of the bas-reliefs in the right side of the façade. 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
. In 1485 he collaborated with his brother-in-law Pietro Antonio Solari
in the Ospedale Maggiore
of Milan, a project of which he was made director ten years later.
Amadeo was then active in the decoration of the Milan Cathedral. He collaborated with Donato Bramante
on the facade of Santa Maria presso San Satiro
in Milan. In 1488 Amadeo was commissioned by Cardinal Ascanio Sforza
, the direction of works of the new Pavia Cathedral
, again with Bramante having a minor role. In this period he worked also as Ducal engineer for Ludovico il Moro, designing fortifications at Chiavenna and Piattamale
, as well as repairing of roads and bridges in Valtellina
and (in the 16th century) hydraulic works; for Ludovico he also realized a Loggia in the Ducal Palace of Vigevano
, as well as some statues for the Milanese Cathedral. From 1495 Amadeo directed the works of the church of Santa Maria presso San Celso
at Milan. From 1497 he directed works at the Milan Cathedral, finishing the tambour in 1500.
In the 16th century, Amadeo designed the church of Santa Maria di Canepanova
, also in Pavia. In 1501 he sculpted reliefs with "Stories of the Carthusians" and "life of St. Bruno" for the Certosa of Pavia. In 1982 it has been proven that the Sanctuary of Santa Maria alla Fontana, attributed for many years to Leonardo da Vinci
was in fact designed by Amadeo. In 1508 he also presented a model for the spire of the Milan Cathedral, which was not executed.
To Amadeo has been also attributed the notable façade of the Cathedral of Lugano
, considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.
He died in Milan in 1522.
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
, architect, and engineer.
Amadeo was born in Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
. In 1470 he was commissioned by Bartolomeo Colleoni
Bartolomeo Colleoni
Bartolomeo Colleoni was a Venetian condottiero, who became Captain-General of the republic of Venice, where there is a famous statue showing him on horseback.-Biography:...
to complete his funerary chapel, the Cappella Colleoni
Cappella Colleoni
The Cappella Colleoni is a church/mausoleum in Bergamo, northern Italy.Dedicated to the saints Bartholomew, Mark and John the Baptist, it was built in 1472-1476 as the personal shrine for the famous condottiere Bartolomeo Colleoni, a member of one of the most outstanding families of the city, and...
in Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
, which had been begun by Guiniforte
Guiniforte Solari
Guiniforte Solari , also known as Boniforte, was an Italian sculptor, architect and engineer.Born in Milan, he was the son of the architect Giovanni Solari, and brother of Francesco Solari....
and Francesco Solari
Francesco Solari
thumb|240px|Madonna with Child, church of Sant'Angelo, Milan.Francesco Solari was an Italian sculptor, architect and engineer.He was born in Milan, the son of Giovanni Solari and the brother of Guiniforte Solari....
. 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 Urgnano
Urgnano
Urgnano is a comune in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 45 km northeast of Milan and about 11 km south of Bergamo...
. The condottiero's tomb was realized in collaboration with other artists, with Amadeo providing the reliefs of the lower sarcophagus and of the smaller upper sarcophagus, as well seven statues of the Virtues.
Amadeo was also commissioned by Duke Galeazzo Maria Sforza
Galeazzo Maria Sforza
Galeazzo Maria Sforza was Duke of Milan from 1466 until his death. He was famous for being lustful, cruel and tyrannical....
to work for some years in the Certosa di Pavia
Certosa di Pavia
The Certosa di Pavia Gra-Car , Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Grace, is a monastery and complex in Lombardy, northern Italy, situated near a small town of the same name in the Province of Pavia, 8 km north of Pavia...
. During 1473-1476, Amadeo realized half of the bas-reliefs in the right side of the façade. In 1480 he finished the arch of the Persian Martyrs in the Olivetani Monastery of Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
(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
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
. In 1485 he collaborated with his brother-in-law Pietro Antonio Solari
Pietro Antonio Solari
Pietro Antonio Solari , also known as Pyotr Fryazin, was a Swiss Italian architect....
in the Ospedale Maggiore
Ospedale Maggiore
The Ospedale Maggiore, traditionally named Ca' Granda , is a building in the center of Milan, northern Italy, constructed to house one of the first community hospitals, the largest such undertaking of the fifteenth century...
of Milan, a project of which he was made director ten years later.
Amadeo was then active in the decoration of the Milan Cathedral. He collaborated with Donato Bramante
Donato Bramante
Donato Bramante was an Italian architect, who introduced the Early Renaissance style to Milan and the High Renaissance style to Rome, where his most famous design was St...
on the facade of Santa Maria presso San Satiro
Santa Maria presso San Satiro
Santa Maria presso San Satiro is a church of Milan.The church lies on the site of a primitive worship place erected by the archbishop Anspertus in 879, dedicated to Saint Satyrus, confessor and brother of Saints Ambrose and Marcellina. The current church was instead built from 1472 to 1482 under...
in Milan. In 1488 Amadeo was commissioned by Cardinal Ascanio Sforza
Ascanio Sforza
Ascanio Maria Sforza Visconti was an Italian Cardinal of the Catholic Church, generally known as a skilled diplomat who played a major role in the election of Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI.-Early years:...
, the direction of works of the new Pavia Cathedral
Pavia Cathedral
The Cathedral of Pavia is a church in Pavia, northern Italy, the largest in the city. The construction was begun in the 15th century on the site of two pre-existing Romanesque cathedrals . The cathedral houses the remains of St. Sirus, first bishop of Pavia...
, again with Bramante having a minor role. In this period he worked also as Ducal engineer for Ludovico il Moro, designing fortifications at Chiavenna and Piattamale
Tirano
Tirano is a town in Valtellina, located in the province of Sondrio, Northern Italy. It has about 9,044 inhabitants and is adjacent to the Switzerland-Italy boundary. The river Adda flows through the town....
, as well as repairing of roads and bridges in Valtellina
Valtellina
Valtellina or the Valtelline valley ; is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. Today it is known for its skiing, its hot spring spas, its cheeses and its wines...
and (in the 16th century) hydraulic works; for Ludovico he also realized a Loggia in the Ducal Palace of Vigevano
Vigevano
Vigevano is a town and comune in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, northern Italy, which possesses many artistic treasures and runs a huge industrial business. It is at the center of a district called Lomellina, a great rice-growing agricultural centre...
, as well as some statues for the Milanese Cathedral. From 1495 Amadeo directed the works of the church of Santa Maria presso San Celso
Santa Maria presso San Celso
Santa Maria dei Miracoli presso San Celso is a church and a sanctuary in Milan, Lombardy, northern Italy.-History and overview:The construction was begun by Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono and Giovanni Battagio in 1493, to house a miraculous icon of the Madonna, initially on the central plan...
at Milan. From 1497 he directed works at the Milan Cathedral, finishing the tambour in 1500.
In the 16th century, Amadeo designed the church of Santa Maria di Canepanova
Santa Maria di Canepanova
Santa Maria di Canepanova is a Renaissance church in Pavia, Lombardy, northern Italy. It was designed by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo.The church was built from 1500 to 1507, when Amadeo was at the climax of his fame...
, also in Pavia. In 1501 he sculpted reliefs with "Stories of the Carthusians" and "life of St. Bruno" for the Certosa of Pavia. In 1982 it has been proven that the Sanctuary of Santa Maria alla Fontana, attributed for many years to Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
was in fact designed by Amadeo. In 1508 he also presented a model for the spire of the Milan Cathedral, which was not executed.
To Amadeo has been also attributed the notable façade of the Cathedral of Lugano
Lugano
Lugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
, considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.
He died in Milan in 1522.