|
Biard (Biart), Nicolas (Colin) Biard is said to have directed the construction of the château of Amboise, France, after March 3, 1499. In association with Jean de Doyac, Didier de Felin, and André de Saint Martin, he worked on the Pont Notre Dame, Paris, begun March 28, 1499. Soon after this he was charged by Louis XII with the erection of that part of the château of Blois which was built during his reign. While occupied with this building he was invited, in 1504, by the Cardinal Georges d'Amboise, the minister of Louis XII, to inspect the works at the château of Gaillon near Rouen. He visited Gaillon in 1505 and 1506, and seems to have been a general inspector, or supervisor, of the constructions there. Dec. 14, 1506, he was called to Rouen to advise concerning the completion of the Tour de Beurre at the cathedral. Dec. 4, 1507, he was consulted concerning the dangerous condition of the tower of the cathedral of Bourges which fell Dec. 31. He began the reconstruction of this tower Oct. 19, 1508.
Giacomo (Jacopo) della Guercia (or Guercia) Giacomo probably derived his name from the village of Quercia Grossa, near Siena, Italy. In 1401 he competed for the bronze doors of the baptistery in Florence. One of his most charming works is the recumbent statue on the monument to Ilaría, wife of Paolo Guinigi, in the cathedral of Lucca. The first contract for the fountain of the Piazza del Campo, the so-called Fonte Gaia, at Siena, dates from Jan. 22, 1409. It was completed in 1419. The retable of the Trenta chapel in the church of S. Frediano at Lucca was finished in 1422. About 1430 he made one of the bas-reliefs in the font of the baptistery at Siena. Another is by Donatello. March 28, 1425, Giacomo made a contract to decorate the great portal of the church of S. Petronio in Bologna. The bas-reliefs, representing scenes from the Creation, which he made for this door are among the finest works of the early Italian Renaissance.
Hollar, Wenceslas The famous engraver Hollar was brought to England by the Earl of Arundel in 1637. His engravings of cathedrals and other important buildings are especially fine, and his views of cities are of extreme value. |
Quondam © 2008.06.22 |