Benedetto da Maiano

Pulpit of Santa Croce in Florence

St. Sebastian, Misericordia, Florence

Benedetto da Maiano (1442 - may 27 1497) was an early Italian Renaissance sculptor.

Born in the village of Maiano, near Fiesole, he started his career as companion of his brother, the architect Giuliano da Maiano. When he reached the age of thirty he starts training under the famous sculptor Antonio Rossellino. It is here he learns to work with marble and eventually even surpassing his master. He became one of the most important sculptors of the 15th century.

His early works include a shrine for the cathedral of Faenza. Although he was specialized in religious sculpture he also carved some portraits of important Florentines. The marble pulpit in the Santa Croce in Florence is considered his masterpiece. On the pulpit are scenes from the life of St. Francis.

In the years following 1480 he worked in Naples, finishing the works of his master in the S. Anna church. His style of sculpting marble had an immense impact on the style of the Naples area. Together with his brother he worked on the chapel of the Strozzi family in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence.

As an architect, he was responsible for the famous Palazzo Strozzi, also in Florence, as well as for the portico of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Arezzo.

He died in Florence at the age of 55.

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