Giorgio Orsini facts for kids

Giorgio Orsini (born 1410, died 1475) was a famous Italian sculptor and architect from Dalmatia. He is often called Giorgio da Sebenico or Giorgio di Matteo. Orsini mostly lived and worked in the city of Sebenico (now called Šibenik, Croatia), which was part of the Republic of Venice back then.

Life of Giorgio Orsini

Giorgio Orsini came from the old and noble House of Orsini. However, his family branch faced tough times. Giorgio and his father, Mateo, had to work hard to support themselves.

Giorgio learned his skills in the art workshops of sculptors Giovanni and Bartolomeo Buon in Venice. While in Venice, Giorgio married Elizabetta da Monte. She brought him a good dowry, including money and homes in Venice. Giorgio used Elizabetta's money to invest in a grocery store and a merchant ship. These businesses brought them good profits. Elizabetta was very trusted by Giorgio. She could manage his affairs when he was away.

In July 1455, Giorgio bought a home from a local nobleman. He carved his family's symbol, a bear, into the house. When signing contracts, Giorgio often used his art name, Georgius Dalmaticus. Sixty-five years after his death, his grandson, Giacomo, was recognized as a descendant of the noble House of Orsini. Giorgio and Elizabetta's daughter, Flavia, married another Dalmatian painter, Giorgio Culinovich (Schiavone), in 1463. Some sources say their daughter's name was Elena, who also married Schiavone.

Giorgio Orsini's Art Work

In 1441, Giorgio was asked to come to Sebenico from Venice. He was to take over building the Šibenik Cathedral. The previous architect, Messer Antonio di Pietro Paolo, had fallen out of favor. Antonio had started the cathedral in 1431.

Giorgio changed the building style. He moved away from the old Gothic style. Instead, he used new ideas from the Italian Renaissance architecture. The entire cathedral roof is made of large marble slabs. These slabs are supported by strong ribs. The same stone forms both the ceiling inside and the roof outside. Giorgio was the main architect for the cathedral from 1441 to 1473. Another architect, Niccolò di Giovanni da Firenze, continued the work after July 1, 1477.

Giorgio also worked in other cities. In 1444, he went to Spalato (now Split) to build the chapel of S. Ranier. This was in the church of S. Benedetto. He finished this work in two years. He returned to Spalato in 1448. There, he made the chapel of S. Anastasius in the cathedral.

Orsini did not always follow the Renaissance style. He also created several beautiful late Gothic buildings in Ancona. These include the facades of S. Francesco and S. Agostino churches. He also built the Palazzo Benincasa. Work on the S. Agostino facade was finished in 1455. Orsini worked on this facade between 1455 and 1459. The facade of the Loggia dei Mercanti, built by Giovanni Pace in 1443, also features Giorgio Orsini's work. It has statues representing virtues, created between 1451 and 1459.

In 1460, Giorgio returned to Sebenico. In 1464 and 1465, he was in Ragusa (now Dubrovnik). He helped build the Torre Menze (Minčeta Tower). He also helped restore the Palace of the Rectors. The Palace of Rectors was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1462. Orsini replaced three main stone pillars that were broken. The next year, he was in Pago (now Pag, Croatia). He improved and made the courtyard of the bishop's palace larger. He also designed and worked on the facade of the cathedral at Ossero. The next year, he started work on the facade of the Cappella Grande. This was part of the parish church at Pago.

In 1470, he went to Rome. There, his friend and sculptor, Giovanni Dalmato, was working on a monument. In 1472, Giorgio began the facade of S. Maria, Cittanova, in the Marche region.

Giorgio Orsini had many students. Some of them continued to work on the cathedral at Sebenico after he died in 1475.

"Juraj Dalmatinac"

In Croatia, Giorgio Orsini is celebrated as a Croatian sculptor and architect. He is known by the Croatian name Juraj Dalmatinac. This name is a translation of his art name "Georgius Dalmaticus." This translation became popular in the second half of the 19th century.

Another Croatian version of Orsini's name is Juraj Matejević. This name comes from the Latin text "Georgvs Mathei" (meaning Georg, Mathew's son). This text is carved into the marble of St. Jacob cathedral church in Sebenico.

Croats have built a monument to celebrate Orsini. It is in front of the St. Jacob cathedral church in Šibenik, Croatia. This large statue of Orsini was created by the Yugoslav sculptor Ivan Meštrović. Two elementary schools in Croatia are named after him. One is in Pag, and the other is in Šibenik.

Images for kids

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  Juraj Dalmatinac (George the Dalmatian) monument in Zadar

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  Two Renaissance putti by Giorgio da Sebenico with the consecration inscription of the construction of the Cathedral of St. Jacob in Šibenik, Croatia

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  Altar detail in the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, Split

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  Šibenik Cathedral of St James

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  Šibenik Cathedral of St James

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  Šibenik Cathedral of St James

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  Cathedral of Šibenik (interior)

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  Loggia dei Mercanti, Ancona

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  Coat of arms of Ancona, Loggia dei Mercanti, Ancona

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  Loggia dei Mercanti, Ancona

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  Church of San Francesco alle Scale, Ancona

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  Church of San Francesco alle Scale, Ancona

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  Church of San Francesco alle Scale, Ancona

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  Church of San Francesco alle Scale, Ancona

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  Church of Sant'Agostino, Ancona

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  Minčeta Tower, Dubrovnik

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  Rector's Palace, Dubrovnik

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  Rector's Palace, Dubrovnik

See also

In Spanish: Giorgio Orsini para niños