Benedetto da Maiano

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Benedetto da Maiano (* Florence 1442 - † Florence 1497) was an early Italian Renaissance sculptor.

Maiano started his career as companion of his brother, the architect Guiliano da Maiano. When he reached the age of thirty he starts training under the famous sculptor Antonio Rossellino. It is here he learns to work with marble and eventually even surpassing his master. He became one of the most important sculptors of the 15th century.

His early works include a shrine for the cathedral of Faenza. Although he was specialized in religious sculpture he also carved some portraits of important Florentines. The marble pulpit in the Santa Croce in Florence is considered his masterpiece. On the pulpit are scenes from the life of St. Francis.

In the years following 1480 he worked in Naples, finishing the works of his master in the S. Anna church. His style of sculpting marble had an immense impact on the style of the Naples area. Together with his brother he worked on the chapel of the Strozzi family in the Santa Maria Novella in Florence.

He died at the age of 55.

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