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Antonio Federighi, who probably came from Siena, was first documented in 1435-8, when he worked on the Duomo there under Jacopo della Quercia.  He subsequently served as capomaestro there for three decades (1450-81).  He held the same post at Orvieto in 1451-6, an arrangement that must have presented problems for his respective employers.

Orvieto

Duomo

In 1451, “magister Antonius Federici de Senis” was appointed as capomaestro.  As noted above, he is documented in this capacity until 1456.

Design of the Facade (1450-6)

Antonio Federighi seems to have been responsible for introducing the row of niches for twelve statues of the apostles above the rose window the external facade, in order to correct its proportions. 



Water Stoups (ca. 1456)

The stoup (ca. 1459) to the right in the entrance bay of the Duomo is usually considered to be an autograph work of Antonio Federighi (died 1483).  This work is sometimes dated to 1484, because a document of that date laments the lack of a beautiful stoup for holy water.  The earlier dating of ca. 1456 is made on stylistic grounds: it might be that this stoup was in a private chapel by 1484 and hence the need for a new one for the nave.  (The figure of St John the Baptist that now stands on this stoup was probably a separate commission). 



Eritrean Sibyl (1456) 

This freestanding marble statue on the left of the external facade  is probably the "figura marmorea de novo facta per magistrum. Antoniuni Caputmagistrum in angulo facciate" (the new figure made by Antonio Federighi at the corner of the facade) which was documented in 1456.






Read more:

C. Benocci et al. (Eds), “Storia di Orvieto: Quattrocento e Cinquecento” (2010) Pisa, Volume II contains two particularly relevant articles:

  1. L. Principi, “Fino a Oggi ha Chiamato del Continuo a Ornarla Maestri Forestieri": i Contributi Esterni nella Scultura a Orvieto del Quattrocento e i Riflessi dei Prototipi Orvietani nella Produzione Scultorea del Rinascimento” (pp 536-7); and

  2. L. Principi, “Antonio Federighi a Orvieto : tra l'antico e il Maestro Sottile” (pp 565-84)


Return to Art in  Orvieto.


Return to “Foreign” Sculptors in Umbria.

 


Antonio Federighi (died 1483) 


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Antonio Federighi in:  Orvieto