Pirro Ligorio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pirro Ligorio (c. 1510, Naples - October 30, 1583, Ferrara) was an Italian architect, painter, antiquarian and garden designer.
[edit] Biography
Ligorio was born in Naples. In 1534 he moved to Rome, where he developed his interest in antiquities, and was named superintendent to the ancient monuments by the Popes Pius IV and Paul IV. In 1549 he began excavations in the Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli and designed his masterwork, the Villa d'Este, for Ippolito Cardinal d'Este. His Mannerist taste is present also in the Casina Pio IV (also known as Villa Pia) at the Vatican (1559-1562).
In 1568 he was fired by Paul V for having criticized Michelangelo's work in St. Peter's Basilica, and moved to Ferrara, where he was host of Duke Alfonso II d'Este.
As a scholar of antiquities, one of his most famous published works is a map of ancient Rome (Antiquae Urbis Imago) from 1561.
He died in Ferrara in 1583.
[edit] References
- Coffin, D.R., Pirro Ligorio. The Renaissance Artist, Architect, and Antiquarian, Penn State Press (2003)
- Claudio Rendina. Enciclopedia di Roma, Netwon Compton, Rome (2000)
