Bernardo Buontalenti

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Bernardo Buontalenti, byname of Bernardo Delle Girandole (1536? - June 25 or 26, 1608) was an Italian Mannerist stage designer, theatre architect, military engineer and painter.

[edit] Biography

Buontalenti was born in Florence.

He entered the service of the Medici as a youth and remained with them the rest of his life. In 1562 he travelled to Spain. His first known work is from 1568, the Palazzo di Bianca Cappello in Florence.

His main achievements include the project of the new city of Livorno, the decoration of Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens with the famous grotto, as well as the Parco di Pratolino with the colossal sculpture portraying the Apennines. His skills as military engineer are shown by the the port of Livorno, the Forte di Belvedere, the walls of Pistoia, Grosseto, Prato, Portoferraio and Naples; he also perfectionated cannons, and devised a new type of incendiary grenade.

In the Uffizi Palace of Florence, he built a great court stage, where, during the winter of 1585–86, splendid feast were produced under his direction. He designed costumes for the Medici extravaganzas.

Despite his successes, his prodigality led Buontalenti to financial ruin; he survived in his late life thanks to a pension given him by the Grand Duke of Tuscany.