Andrea del Verrocchio: life and works of Leonardo da Vinci's master
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Andrea del Verrocchio is best known to most as the master of Leonardo da Vinci, but he was also one of the greatest sculptors of Renaissance Florence.
Verrocchio (Andrea di Michele di Francesco Cioni; Florence, c. Venice, ) is one of the greatest sculptors of the Renaissance, but his was a multifaceted genius: he was also a goldsmith, a painter (although very few of his paintings are known to us), and he was the owner of the most advanced and innovative workshop in Florence of the second half of the 15th century, where some of the most important artists of the Renaissance itself were trained, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Lorenzo di Credi, and several others. Andrea di Michele di Francesco di Cione (this is his real name, which can sometimes be found simplified as “Andrea Cioni”) worked as a young man as an errand boy for one Francesco Verrocchio, and the nickname by which Andrea became is that of his employer, in keeping with a custom not uncommon at the time.
A highly innovative artist, in that he carried forwa
Andrea del Verrocchio
The Italian sculptor and painter Andrea del Verrocchio () created some of the most powerful monumental bronze sculptures of the Renaissance.
Andrea del Verrocchio was born in Florence, the son of a brick and tile maker. Nothing is known about his early training. In the magistrates of the merchants' guild of Florence commissioned him to execute a bronze Doubting of Thomas to occupy a marble niche earlier executed by Donatello and Michelozzo for the principal facade of Orsanmichele in Florence. When the group was finally placed in its niche in , the diarist L. Landucci called the head of Christ "the most beautiful head of the Saviour that has yet been made." The Doubting of Thomas is one of the most important sculpture groups of the entire Renaissance. It is a dramatic masterpiece of spatial arrangement between two high-relief, life-size figures (the statues are actually hollow shells of bronze, without backs) and an exquisitely ornamented Renaissance niche.
The Medici family commissioned a number of works from Verrocchio. In Cosimo de' Medici was buried in a tomb that had been commissioned from Verrocchio two years earlier. In he completed the to
Andrea del Verrocchio ()
Early Sculptures
The earliest surviving figurative sculpture of Verrocchio is a small bronze statue of David ( Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence). The statuette was commissioned by the Medici family and has often been compared to Donatello's more famous version (although not favourably). Donatello's David is sensuous, depicted nude and vulnerable. Verrocchio's David is elegantly clothed, posing casually with a sword in one hand and the other hand on his hip. Although it is less emotionally complex than Donatello's version, it was meant to be simpler, and appreciated for its exquisite patina (bronze sheen).
A second important bronze figure was Putto with Dolphin (, Palazzo Vecchio Museum, Florence), an adorable little free standing sculpture of Cupid holding a dolphin. Cupid is precisely balanced on one leg, and was probably initially placed on a fountain so that it could be turned by the pressure of jets of water.
Note About Art Evaluation
In order to appreciate important 3-D artists like the Italian sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio, see: How to Appreciate Sculpture. For later works, please see: How to Appreciate Modern S
Andrea del Verrocchio
Italian sculptor and painter of the Renaissance Country: Italy
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Transition to Sculpture
- Prolific Sculpture and Painting
- Influence on Leonardo da Vinci
- Versatility and Accomplishments
- Legacy and Impact
- Later Years and Death
Early Life and Education
Andrea del Verrocchio, an Italian sculptor and painter of the Florentine Renaissance, was born in Florence circa Verrocchio's early education focused on the sciences, particularly geometry.
Transition to Sculpture
Initially a goldsmith, Verrocchio gradually shifted his focus to sculpture after his successful creation of bronze figurines. He later mastered marble carving, as evidenced by the exquisite "Tomb of the Wife of Lorenzo Tornabuoni" he crafted in
Prolific Sculpture and Painting
Verrocchio's renown grew with commissions for notable sculptures, including the bronze "David" and the marble "Madonna and Child" for Leonardo Bruni's tomb. He also executed numerous paintings, including the unfinished "Battle of the Naked Men" and altarpieces for religious institutions.
Influence on Leonardo da Vinci
Verrocchio's workshop became a breeding ground f
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