Andrea Pisano, also called Andrea da Pontedera
(born c. 1270–90, Pontedera, near Pisa – died c. 1348–49,
Orvieto, Papal States), one of the most important Italian sculptors of the
14th century whose chief works were executed in Florence, where he came
under the influence of Giotto. Andrea is recorded as the author of the
earliest of three bronze doors for the baptistery of the cathedral of
Florence, which, completed in 1336, has 20 quatrefoil panels with scenes
from the life of St. John the Baptist and 8 with figures of the virtues.
The figures are gilded and set against a smooth bronze surface.
On the death of Giotto, in 1337, Andrea succeeded him as the chief architect
in charge of the construction of the campanile (bell tower) of the cathedral
of Florence, to which he added two stories adorned with panel reliefs. Most
of the reliefs on the lower part, depicting the arts, sciences, and
occupations of man and three scenes from Genesis, are generally attributed
to Andrea and his studio. Statues in niches of the campanile (originally
placed above the reliefs now in the cathedral museum), representing David
and Solomon and two sibyls, have been attributed to Andrea, but this has
been disputed. Two statuettes of Christ and Saint Reparata also in the
cathedral's museum are generally considered his.
The iconography of the baptistery door was indebted to the mosaics on the
interior of the building and to Giotto's frescoes in Sta. Croce. The
composition of the door was influenced by that of the bronze doors of the
cathedral of Pisa. Andrea's style is marked by a simplicity, restraint,
and skillful arrangement of figures that places him in the front rank of
the sculptors of the period.
He is last recorded as superintending architect of the cathedral of Orvieto,
in which office his son Nino succeeded him.
From October of 1916 through January of 1917, Rudolf Steiner gave a series
of nine lectures known as the Art Course. These lectures were given
the title of:
The History of Art.
Click here to discover what Steiner said about Andrea Pisano in the
ninth lecture,
or in the entire
lecture series.