Vincenzo Danti facts for kids
Vincenzo Danti (born 1530, died 1576) was a famous Italian sculptor. He lived during the exciting time of the Renaissance. Vincenzo was from a city called Perugia in Italy.
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Becoming a Sculptor
Vincenzo Danti's father was an architect and a goldsmith. Because of his father, Vincenzo became interested in drawing and working with gold.
In 1545, when he was about 15, Vincenzo moved to Rome. There, he began to study sculpture. He worked hard to learn how to create amazing art.
First Big Project
In 1553, Vincenzo got a very important job. He was asked to create a bronze statue of Pope Julius III. A pope is the leader of the Catholic Church. This large statue was placed outside the main church in Perugia, called Perugia Cathedral.
After this, in 1557, Vincenzo moved to Florence. Florence was a very important city for art during the Renaissance.
Bronze Artworks
In 1559, Vincenzo made a bronze artwork called Moses and the Brazen Serpent. This piece was a "relief," which means it was carved so that the figures stick out from a flat background. It was inspired by the works of another famous sculptor, Donatello.
Competing with the Best
In 1560, there was a big competition in Florence. Sculptors were trying to win the chance to create a large fountain. This fountain was for Piazza della Signoria and is known as the Neptune Fountain.
The main artists competing were Bartolomeo Ammanati and Cellini. But Danti also wanted to show his talent. He entered the competition to prove his skills.
A Clever Statue
In 1561, Danti carved a marble statue called Honour Triumphs over Falsehood. This statue was special because you could walk all around it. It looked interesting from every angle. This is called a statue "in the round."
The marble for this statue was given to him by his supporter, Danti Sforza Almeni. It was amazing because Vincenzo carved it from a single block of marble. This took incredible skill!
Famous Works in Florence
In 1567, Vincenzo started writing a book. It was about the rules for making buildings and art look balanced and correct. He planned to write many books, but he only finished one.
The Beheading of St John
From 1569 to 1571, Vincenzo created his most famous artwork. It is a bronze group of figures called The Beheading of St John the Baptist. This artwork is located above the bronze doors of the south entrance of the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence.
The artwork shows John the Baptist kneeling. An executioner is on the right, ready with his sword. On the left is Salome. The style of this artwork is called "Mannerist." This means the bodies and limbs of the figures are a bit stretched out. Their clothes also have unusual folds. All the poses in the artwork look very elegant.
Cosimo I as Augustus
From 1568 to 1572, Vincenzo carved a statue of Cosimo I as Augustus. Cosimo I was an important ruler from the powerful Medici family in Florence. This statue showed him dressed in ancient Roman armor. This was a new idea started by the famous artist Michelangelo.
The statue was made for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Later, another statue of Cosimo, made by Giambologna, replaced it.
Later Life and Family
In 1575, Vincenzo Danti returned to his hometown of Perugia. He passed away there in 1576.
Vincenzo had a brother named Girolamo Danti. Girolamo was a painter. He painted beautiful pictures on the ceilings of chapels. One of his works, a Resurrection, is in the church of San Francesco al Prato in Perugia.
Girolamo also painted a Nativity of the Virgin for the church of San Domenico in Gubbio. He even painted in Rome for the Gallery of Maps. His brother Ignazio Danti supervised him on that project.
See also
In Spanish: Vincenzo Danti para niños
