Andrea Alessi ( sq, Andrea Nikollë Aleksi, hr, Andrija Aleši, 1425–1505) was an Albanian

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

and

sculptor Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

born in Durazzo ( Albania Veneta), considered one of the most distinguished artists of Dalmatia. Alessi was born in Durazzo (modern Durrës,

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

) in Albania Veneta, and may have been of local Albanian origin rather than Italian. Other sources say he was of Italian origin. He moved to

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, entertai ...

in Dalmatia during the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...

, where he studied under sculptor Mark Troja. He lived most of his life and conducted much of his work in Dalmatia. Alessi was a disciple of

Giorgio da Sebenico Giorgio da Sebenico () or Giorgio Orsini or Juraj Dalmatinac (; c. 1410 – 10 October 1473) was a Venetian sculptor and architect from Dalmatia, who worked mainly in Sebenico (now Šibenik, Croatia), and in the city of Ancona, then a maritime ...

, and his best-known work is with

Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino (Croatian: ''Nikola Firentinac'') called Nicolas of Florence (1418 in Bagno a Ripoli – 1506 in Šibenik), was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and architect, active in Venice and Dalmatia. He is best known by hi ...

on the expansion of the ''chapel of Blessed John of

Trogir Trogir (; historically known as Traù (from Dalmatian language, Dalmatian, Venetian language, Venetian and Italian language, Italian: ); la, Tragurium; Greek language, Ancient Greek: Τραγύριον, ''Tragyrion'' or Τραγούριον, '' ...

'' in 1468. Just like Šibenik Cathedral of St James in

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

(then part of Venetian Dalmatia), it was composed out of large stone blocks with extreme precision. It is unique harmony of architecture and sculpture according to antique ideals. From inside, there is no flat wall. In the middle of chapel, on the altar, lays the sarcophagus of blessed John of Trogir. Surrounding are reliefs of

putto A putto (; plural putti ) is a figure in a work of art depicted as a chubby male child, usually naked and sometimes winged. Originally limited to profane passions in symbolism,Dempsey, Charles. ''Inventing the Renaissance Putto''. University of ...

s carrying torches that look like they were peeping out of doors of Underworld. Above them there are niches with sculptures of Christ and apostles (the principle work of Alessi), amongst them are putties, circular windows encircled with fruit garland, and a relief of Nativity. All is ceiled with

coffered ceiling A coffer (or coffering) in architecture is a series of sunken panels in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault. A series of these sunken panels was often used as decoration for a ceiling or a vault, als ...

with image of God in the middle and 96 portrait heads of angels. With so many faces of smiling children the chapel looks very cheerful and there isn’t nothing similar in European art of that time. Andrea is best known for his merchant statues in

Ancona Ancona (, also , ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region in central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region. The city is located northeast of Rome, on the Adriatic ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, and his 1454 mural paintings in a church on Arabe island of Dalmatia particularly ''The Baptistry of Trogir". He signed the Trogir Baptistery in 1467 with: ''ANDREAS ALEXIUS DURRACHINUS OPIFEX MCCCCXII'' (Andreas Alexius, artisan from Durrës, 1462). He died in Split and is buried in D a Church in Split, Croatia in 1505.

References

External links

Biography
at the Croatian Post stamp collection web site {{DEFAULTSORT:Aleksi, Andrea 15th-century architects 15th-century sculptors Republic of Venice architects Republic of Venice sculptors Albanian architects Albanian sculptors People from Durrës 1425 births 1505 deaths Venetian period in the history of Albania Venetian period in the history of Croatia