Francesco di Giorgio

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Francesco di Giorgio (bapt. Siena, 23 Sept. 1439; bur. Siena, 29 Nov. 1501). Sienese painter, sculptor, architect, military engineer, and writer, a pupil of the equally versatile Vecchietta. He painted mainly during the early part of his career and few pictures certainly by him survive; the most important are a signed Nativity (c.1475) and a documented Coronation of the Virgin (1472–4), both in the Pinacoteca at Siena. As a sculptor, his major works are two bronze angels (1489–97) on the high altar of Siena Cathedral. Francesco was widely travelled, and the latter part of his career was spent mainly as an architect and military engineer (he was an expert in fortifications and is said to have exploded the first mine). As a technological innovator he was second only to his friend Leonardo, whom he certainly influenced. Among his patrons was Federico da Montefeltro, and Francesco may have had a hand in the designing of his celebrated palace in Urbino. He also designed churches, notably S. Maria del Calcinaio, near Cortona, begun in 1484. Francesco wrote a treatise on architecture in the last years of his life; it was not published until 1841.

Francesco di Giorgio (1439–1501). Sienese painter, sculptor, architect, military engineer, and writer, a pupil of the equally versatile Vecchietta. He painted mainly during the early part of his career and few pictures certainly by him survive; the most important are a signed Nativity (c.1475) and a documented Coronation of the Virgin (1472–4), both in the Pinacoteca in Siena. As a sculptor, his major works are two bronze angels (1489–97) on the high altar of Siena Cathedral. Francesco was widely travelled, and the latter part of his career was spent mainly as an architect and military engineer (he was an expert in fortifications and is said to have exploded the first mine). As a technological innovator he was second only to his friend Leonardo, whom he certainly influenced. Among his patrons was Federico da Montefeltro, and Francesco may have had a hand in the designing of his celebrated palace in Urbino. His also designed churches, notably S. Maria del Calcinaio, near Cortona, begun 1484. Francesco wrote a treatise on architecture in the last years of his life; it was not published until 1841.

Francesco di Giorgio (Francesco di Giorgio Martini) , 1439-1502, also called Francesco di Giorgio Martini, Italian engineer, architect, painter, and sculptor, b. Siena. With Renaissance versatility he worked as military architect and engineer, first at Siena (1463-78) and later in the service of Lorenzo de' Medici and the duke of Urbino. He constructed parts of the ducal palace at Urbino and influenced architectural design in the Marches. In Milan he made a model for the dome of the cathedral. As a sculptor, he is remembered for his work in the choir of the Siena Cathedral. His paintings, which show the influence of the Botticelli circle, have great charm. They remain mostly in Siena. His treatise Trattato di architettura civile e militare, written c.1482 and based on Vitruvius is one of the most important documents of Renaissance architectural theory. It was first published in 1841.

Bibliography: See study by A. S. Weller (1943).