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Pritzker Prize-winning Italian architect Renzo Piano was born into a family of builders from Genoa. His firm Piano and Rogers, was co-established with British architect Richard Rogers. The Renzo Piano Building Workshop worked on a number of museum commissions, most notably those of Menil Collection.
Andrea Palladio was an Italian architect remembered for designing villas, country houses, palaces, and churches. Widely regarded as one of the most influential architects in the history of architecture, Palladio designed 23 buildings in Vicenza and 24 villas in Veneto. Together, they are known as the City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto as named by UNESCO.
Donato Bramante was an Italian painter and architect. He is credited with introducing the High Renaissance style to Rome and Renaissance architecture to Milan. Bramante is also credited with planning the structure of St. Peter's Basilica, which was later executed by Michelangelo. Bramante is also remembered for designing buildings like Santa Maria presso San Satiro and Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Born in Austria, Ettore Sottsass later moved to Italy, where his architect father was posted. He had been part of the Italian army during World War II. Initially part of the Memphis Group, he later formed his own architectural consultancy, Sottsass Associati. His works later became symbolic of pop culture.
Paolo Soleri was an Italian architect and educator who taught at the Arizona State University's College of Architecture. He is credited with establishing the Cosanti Foundation and also introduced the concept of arcology, a synthesis of ecology and architecture. A respected architect, Paolo Soleri won several prestigious awards like the American National Design Award and AIA Gold Medal.
Pietro Belluschi was an architect credited with designing more than 1,000 buildings in an illustrious career spanning more than six decades. Belluschi went on to receive several prestigious awards including the AIA Gold Medal and the National Medal of Arts. As a jury member, Belluschi played a crucial role in selecting Maya Lin's competition-winning design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Italian architect Giacomo della Porta was instrumental in the transition of Mannerism to early Baroque style. Born into a family of sculptors, he grew up to become a Roman renaissance figure. He also designed palaces such as Villa Aldobrandini and structures such as the façade of the Church of Gesù.
Michelozzo, one of the chief figures of the Florentine Renaissance movement, initially learned bronze work under the guidance of Lorenzo Ghiberti. Throughout his career, he built everything from tombs to libraries and monasteries. He was also associated with the Medicis, and one of his best-known works was the Palazzo Medici Riccardi.
One of the leading sculptors and architects of the Venetian Renaissance era, Jacopo Sansovino specialized in marble and bronze sculptures. An acquaintance of Pietro Aretino and Titian, he was also made the chief architect of Venice. As a sign of respect, he had adopted his teacher Andrea Sansovino’s surname.
Francesco di Giorgio was a multidimensional person and was a sculptor, painter, writer, architect, and engineer at the same time. The quintessential Renaissance man, he was later chiefly known as an architect and served Duke Federico da Montefeltro. As a sculptor, he specialized in bronze sculptures.
Best remembered for his Treatise on Architecture, Filarete was a Florentine architect, sculptor, medalist and author. Born Antonio di Pietro Averlino, he was given the name Filarete, meaning lover of excellence, possibly by his teacher Lorenzo Ghiberti. Later, he began working independently, building the bronze central doors of Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and Ospedale Maggiore in Milan.
Fourteenth-century Italian sculptor Andrea Pisano was initially trained as a goldsmith. His major works include three bronze doors of the cathedral of Florence, apart from many significant marble works. He also contributed to ending the Byzantine influence on modern art and had also been the superintending architect of Orvieto cathedral.
Bartolomeo Ammannati was an Italian sculptor and architect. He is credited with constructing the original Ponte Santa Trinita, which was rebuilt in 1957 after its destruction during the Second World War. A respected architect of his time, Bartolomeo Ammannati was commissioned to work on several ambitious projects including the Fountain of Neptune in Florence.
Francesco Primaticcio was an Italian painter, sculptor, and architect. Along with Rosso Fiorentino, Primaticcio was counted among the principal artists to showcase their skills at the Chateau Fontainebleau. After Rosso Fiorentino's death, Francesco Primaticcio oversaw the artistic activities at Fontainebleau. He also served as the court painter under Francis II and Henry II.
Bernardo Rossellino was an Italian architect and sculptor who helped popularize the insurgence in the artistic approach of the Renaissance era. Bernardo Rossellino established his own workshop and is credited with teaching future sculptors like Desiderio da Settignano, Mino da Fiesole, and Matteo Civitale.
