The Pavement Masters of Siena (1369-1562)Cust, Robert H. Hobart (Robert Henry Hobart)
History
The Pavement Masters of Siena (1369-1562)
Cust, Robert H. Hobart (Robert Henry Hobart)
Art -- Italy -- Siena; Duomo di Siena; Pavements, Mosaic
Of the first and second of these three men nothing is known but their
names, and the notice which records their work, described in the last
chapter. As I have suggested, Nastagio di Guasparre and Guasparre d’
Agostino may have been father and son, or master and pupil. I have
also referred to the fact that Guasparre d’Agostino painted frescoes
of the Crucifixion and Burial of Christ in the apse over the altar of
the Baptistery,[166] and was commissioned to paint some scenes from the
life of S. Bernardino for the Sacristy of the Duomo. We are told also
by Milanesi[167] that he was the master of Francesco di Giorgio and
Neroccio di Bartolommeo Landi.
20. 1451. _Corso di Bastiano._
Son of Bastiano di Corso, he married Nanna, daughter of a certain
Simone di Niccolo, surnamed _Calabrese_, a maker of drinking vessels.
He was, as we have seen, a sculptor like his father, with whom he
worked. We read, besides, however, that he made the balcony of the
Palazzo Pubblico,[168] whence the sentences on criminals were read,
and executed certain marble work at the Oratorio di Sta. Caterina in
Fontebranda.[169]
21. 1459. _Antonio di Federigo or Federighi_ (_Federigi_).
[Illustration: XXII. CANDLESTICK
BY ANTONIO FEDERIGHI]
This sculptor and architect was one of the glories of Siena in his
time. In one document, to be referred to later, he is called Tolomei
(_de Ptholomeis_), but we have no record as to his birth or family. In
1444, he was among the artists employed on the tomb of Bishop Carlo
Bartoli, and for his share in the work he received 15 lire. In 1451,
he was appointed Capo-maestro of the Opera del Duomo at Orvieto,[170]
where he remained until 1456, living in considerable style.[171] He
had with him all the time his two pupils, Polimante of Assisi and Vito
di Marco, both of whom were paid by the Duomo authorities. He was
evidently held in high honour, for we find on April 7th, 1452,[172]
the Signoria of Siena writing to the heads of the Commune at Orvieto,
to ask them to recommend him to the notice of the Duke of Calabria.
In April, 1453, with safe conducts from the Republic of Florence and
the King of Naples, he, with seven companions, went to Carrara to
quarry marble, and in October of the same year he started for Corneto
for a similar purpose; but was recalled on the 5th of the same month,
to advise as to the roof of one of the Chapels in the Duomo, which
threatened to collapse. In September, 1456, he made, and put into
position, one of the statues on the façade. During this period he made
statues of SS. Ansano, Vittore, and Savino for the Loggia di Mercanzia
or S. Paolo (now the Casino dei Nobili), and executed the work before
the doors of the Baptistery, to which we have already alluded. (Ill.
XXII.) After 1456, he appears to have returned to Siena, for we find a
number of references to a commission for the statues of SS. Peter and
Paul, given first to Urbano da Cortona, then to Federighi, and lastly
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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