Alfonso Lombardi (c. 1497–1537), also known as Lombardi da Lucca, Alfonso da Ferrara and as Alfonso Lombardo, was an Italian sculptor and

medalist A medalist (or medallist) is an artist who designs medals, plaquettes, badges, metal medallions, coins and similar small works in relief in metal. Historically, medalists were typically also involved in producing their designs, and were usually e ...

who was born in

Ferrara, Italy Ferrara (, ; egl, Fràra ) is a city and ''comune'' in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital of the Province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream ...

in 1497, and died in

Bologna Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...

in 1537. He was very active in Bologna where he created a number of works that are still present in the most important churches of that city. Giorgio

Vasari Giorgio Vasari (, also , ; 30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574) was an Italian Renaissance Master, who worked as a painter, architect, engineer, writer, and historian, who is best known for his work '' The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculp ...

dedicated a chapter to Lombardi in his '' Vite''.Vasari's ''Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects''

Works

In his birthplace of Ferrara, Lombardi entered into his artistic apprenticeship, working with plaster and terracotta—materials that he continued to prefer later in his life. He worked at the court of Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, where he executed portrait medals carved in stucco or wax and then cast in metal. Lombardi relocated to Bologna around the age of twenty. Lombardi’s statue of ''Hercules battling the Hydra'', in terracotta, found in the Palazzo d'Accursio in Bologna, was completed in July 1519. In December of that same year, he was commissioned to create the large ensemble of ''Death of the Virgin'' for the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Vita. The work, consisting of fourteen larger-than-life size terracotta figures in highly emotive poses, was likely completed in 1522. Between 1522 and 1526 he executed other works in terracotta in Bologna: ''Lamentation of Christ'' (

Bologna Cathedral Bologna Cathedral ( it, Cattedrale Metropolitana di San Pietro, ''Cattedrale di Bologna''), dedicated to Saint Peter, is the cathedral of Bologna in Italy, and the seat and the metropolitan cathedral of the Archbishop of Bologna. Most of the pres ...

), ''St Bartholomew'' ( Santa Maria della Pioggia), and four terracotta statues of the Patron Saints (Torre dell'Arengo of the Palazzo del Podesta). Lombardi also carved sculptures in marble for the facade of San Petronio Basilica in Bologna, including the ''Lunette of the Resurrection'' (1527) and the side doors depicting the ''Annunciation'' and ''Adam and Eve'' (1526–32). Lombardi’s success in Bologna brought commissions in Faenza and

Castel Bolognese Castel Bolognese ( rgn, Castël Bulgnés) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Ravenna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about southeast of Bologna and about southwest of Ravenna. As of 2006, it has a population of about ...

. According to Vasari, Lombardi was commissioned and prepared models for Pope Clement VII’s sepulchral monument, but this project was never completed due to the death of Cardinal

Ippolito de' Medici Ippolito de' Medici (March 1511 – 10 August 1535) was the only son of Giuliano di Lorenzo de' Medici, born out-of-wedlock to his mistress Pacifica Brandano. Biography Ippolito was born in Urbino. His father died when he was only five (1516), a ...

, who had promised the work to Lombardi.

References

* Bessone-Aurelj, A.M., ''Dizionario degli scultori ed architetti italiani'', Genova, Società anonima editrice, D. Alighieri, 1947. * Vasari, Giorgio, ''Le Vite delle più eccellenti pittori, scultori, ed architettori'', many editions and translations.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lombardi, Alfonso Italian sculptors Italian male sculptors 16th-century Italian sculptors Italian medallists 1537 deaths 1497 births Artists from Bologna Artists from Ferrara 16th-century medallists