Giovanni Antonio Amadeo

Giovanni Antonio Amadeo ( – 27 or 28 August 1522) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor of the Early Renaissance, architect, and engineer. He dominated late fifteenth-century Lombard architecture and sculpture. Starting from 1460, he trained under the master Francesco Solari. During 1473–1476, Amadeo realised half of the bas-reliefs in the right side of the façade.thumb

In 1470 he was commissioned by Bartolomeo Colleoni to complete his funerary chapel, the Cappella Colleoni in Bergamo, which had been begun by Guiniforte and Francesco Solari. He collaborated with Donato Bramante on the facade of Santa Maria presso San Satiro in Milan. In this period he worked also as Ducal engineer for Ludovico il Moro, designing fortifications at Chiavenna and Piattamale, as well as repairing of roads and bridges in Valtellina and (in the 16th century) hydraulic works; for Ludovico, he also realized a Loggia in the Ducal Palace of Vigevano, as well as some statues for the Milanese Cathedral. From 1495, Amadeo directed the works of the church of Santa Maria presso San Celso at Milan.thumb Certosa di Pavia. From 1497, he directed works at the Milan Cathedral, finishing the tambour in 1500.

In the 16th century, Amadeo designed the church of Santa Maria di Canepanova, also in Pavia. In 1501, he sculpted reliefs with "Stories of the Carthusians" and "Life of St. Bruno" for the Certosa of Pavia. In 1982 it had been proven that the Sanctuary of Santa Maria alla Fontana in Milan, attributed for many years to Leonardo da Vinci was in fact designed by Amadeo. In 1508, he also presented a model for the spire of the Milan Cathedral, which was not executed.

The notable façade of the Cathedral of Lugano, considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, has also been attributed to Amadeo.

He died in Milan on 28 August 1522.