DOI chapter:
Painters, Sculptors, Architects, Engravers, and their Works
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61295#0032
10
AGORACRITUS — AGOSTINO.
and the Rhamnusian Nemesis. It is said of this last that it was
originally a Venus, for Agoracritus and Alcamenes contended with
each other in making a statue of that goddess, and when the Athe-
nians gave the preference to the statue of Alcamenes, Agoracritus
changed his to a Nemesis, and sold it to the people of Rhamnus,
making the condition that it should not be set up in Athens. Al-
though this story is often repeated, it is not known to be true, and
Fausanias says that this same Nemesis was the work of Phidias ; but
be that as it may, there is no doubt that Agoracritus was a great
sculptor from 440 to 428 b. c. and the other works attributed to him
were undoubtedly his own.
Agostino and Agnolo, Sienese sculptors, died 1348 and 1350.
In 1284 Giovanni Pisano visited Siena to prepare designs for the
Cathedral. Agostino, said to have been at this time about fifteen
years old, became his pupil. So great was his talent, and his appli-
cation to study, that he soon surpassed his co-disciples. Meantime
bis young brother, Agnolo, had made some secret attempts at sculp-
ture, and from constant intercourse with Agostino and other artists
had acquired a love for their art. At length Agostino prevailed
upon Giovanni to employ Agnolo, together with himself, in executing'
a marble altar for Arezzo. Agnolo so acquitted himself, that Gio-
vanni continued to employ the two at Pistoja, Pisa, etc. They also
studied architecture, and in 1308 were employed by the Nine, who
ruled Siena, to make designs for a palace. When Giovanni died they
were appointed architects to the State, and in 1317 directed the
building of the north front of the Cathedral. After designing the
Porta Romana and other gates, a church, convent, etc., they were
invited to Orvieto by the Tolomei family, and there executed sculp-
tures for the ch. of S. Maria. In 1326 Giotto visited Orvieto,
and pronouncing the Sienese brothers the best sculptors who had
worked there, recommended them to Piero Saccone da Pietramala,
as the best persons he could employ to construct the tomb of Guido,
bishop and lord of Arezzo. This work they did after the plan of
Giotto, which occupied them three years. The tomb was very beau-
tiful, and was adorned with sixteen relievi, representing the principal
events in the life of Guido. They then executed an altar for the
ch. of S. Francisco at Bologna, and when the Pope promised to
remove to that citv, these sculptors were employed to make designs
for the castle fortress to be built for his reception. Wliile they
were at Bologna the Po burst its banks and caused great destruction
of life and property. These brothers found means to reconduct it to
its channel, and for this were honorably rewarded by the lords of
Mantua, and the house of Este. In 1338 they returned to Siena,
where a new church was erected after their designs, and they were
employed to construct a fountain on the principal piazza of the city.
This was successfully done, and the water let on June 1, 1343, greatly
AGORACRITUS — AGOSTINO.
and the Rhamnusian Nemesis. It is said of this last that it was
originally a Venus, for Agoracritus and Alcamenes contended with
each other in making a statue of that goddess, and when the Athe-
nians gave the preference to the statue of Alcamenes, Agoracritus
changed his to a Nemesis, and sold it to the people of Rhamnus,
making the condition that it should not be set up in Athens. Al-
though this story is often repeated, it is not known to be true, and
Fausanias says that this same Nemesis was the work of Phidias ; but
be that as it may, there is no doubt that Agoracritus was a great
sculptor from 440 to 428 b. c. and the other works attributed to him
were undoubtedly his own.
Agostino and Agnolo, Sienese sculptors, died 1348 and 1350.
In 1284 Giovanni Pisano visited Siena to prepare designs for the
Cathedral. Agostino, said to have been at this time about fifteen
years old, became his pupil. So great was his talent, and his appli-
cation to study, that he soon surpassed his co-disciples. Meantime
bis young brother, Agnolo, had made some secret attempts at sculp-
ture, and from constant intercourse with Agostino and other artists
had acquired a love for their art. At length Agostino prevailed
upon Giovanni to employ Agnolo, together with himself, in executing'
a marble altar for Arezzo. Agnolo so acquitted himself, that Gio-
vanni continued to employ the two at Pistoja, Pisa, etc. They also
studied architecture, and in 1308 were employed by the Nine, who
ruled Siena, to make designs for a palace. When Giovanni died they
were appointed architects to the State, and in 1317 directed the
building of the north front of the Cathedral. After designing the
Porta Romana and other gates, a church, convent, etc., they were
invited to Orvieto by the Tolomei family, and there executed sculp-
tures for the ch. of S. Maria. In 1326 Giotto visited Orvieto,
and pronouncing the Sienese brothers the best sculptors who had
worked there, recommended them to Piero Saccone da Pietramala,
as the best persons he could employ to construct the tomb of Guido,
bishop and lord of Arezzo. This work they did after the plan of
Giotto, which occupied them three years. The tomb was very beau-
tiful, and was adorned with sixteen relievi, representing the principal
events in the life of Guido. They then executed an altar for the
ch. of S. Francisco at Bologna, and when the Pope promised to
remove to that citv, these sculptors were employed to make designs
for the castle fortress to be built for his reception. Wliile they
were at Bologna the Po burst its banks and caused great destruction
of life and property. These brothers found means to reconduct it to
its channel, and for this were honorably rewarded by the lords of
Mantua, and the house of Este. In 1338 they returned to Siena,
where a new church was erected after their designs, and they were
employed to construct a fountain on the principal piazza of the city.
This was successfully done, and the water let on June 1, 1343, greatly