Andrea Pisano Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Andrea Pisano

Born	1290 Pontedera, Republic of Pisa
Died	1348 Orvieto, Papal States
Nationality	Italian
Known for	Architecture, sculpture

This is a close-up of a panel Andrea Pisano made for the Florence Baptistery.

Andrea Pisano (born around 1290 in Pontedera; died 1348 in Orvieto) was a very important Italian artist. He was a skilled sculptor and architect. He is also known as Andrea da Pontedera. Andrea Pisano is famous for creating one of the beautiful bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery. He also made many amazing marble sculptures.

Andrea Pisano: A Master Artist
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Andrea Pisano: A Master Artist

Early Life and Training

Andrea Pisano started his art journey as a goldsmith. This means he worked with precious metals like gold. Around the year 1300, he became a student of another sculptor named Mino di Giovanni. They worked together on sculptures for a church in Pisa. Later, Andrea moved to Florence. There, his art style was greatly influenced by the famous painter Giotto. Giotto helped shape Andrea's best work.

The Famous Bronze Doors

Andrea Pisano is most famous for the bronze doors he made for the Baptistery in Florence. This building has three world-famous bronze doors. Andrea created the earliest one, which is on the south side. He began working on it in 1330 and finished it in 1336.

The door is made of many small, four-leaf clover shaped panels. The bottom eight panels show single figures of the Virtues. These are important qualities like hope and charity. The other panels show scenes from the life of John the Baptist.

Sculptures and Architecture

While living in Florence, Andrea Pisano also created many important marble sculptures. These works clearly show the influence of Giotto's style. In 1340, Andrea took over from Giotto as the Master of the Works for the Florence Cathedral. This meant he was in charge of the building projects there.

He created a series of beautiful carvings for the great bell tower of the cathedral. These carvings might have been designed by Giotto himself. The subjects of these carvings include the Four Great Prophets, the Seven Virtues, and the Seven Sacraments. They also show the Seven Works of Mercy and the Seven Planets. The main cathedral building also holds other important marble works by Pisano.

In 1347, Andrea became the Master of the Works at Orvieto Cathedral. This church had already been designed and started by Lorenzo Maitani. These works, along with the Florence Baptistery doors, are the only ones we know for sure were made by Pisano. Andrea Pisano also helped free modern art from the older Byzantine art style. He died in 1348.

Family and Students

Andrea Pisano had two sons, Nino and Tommaso. Both of his sons later followed in his footsteps. They became Master of the Works at Orvieto Cathedral after him.

A famous writer named Giorgio Vasari included a story about Andrea Pisano in his book Lives.

Andrea Pisano also had important students. One of his main students was Andrea di Cione, who is better known as Andrea Orcagna. Another student, Giovanni di Balduccio, created a special shrine in Milan.