Andrija Aleši

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Andrija Aleši (or Andrea Alessi, Alexi) (Lezha, Albania 1425. – Split, around 1505.) was a Renaissance sculptor and master architect. He was of Albanian birth, but lived most of his life and conducted much of his work in Dalmatia, now Croatia, during the Republic of Venice. Aleši was a disciple of Giorgio Orsini (also known as Juraj Dalmatinac) and his best known work is with Nikola Firentinac / Niccolò Fiorentino on the expansion of chapel of Blessed John from Trogir in 1468. Just like Cathedral of St.Jacob in Šibenik, it was composed out of large stone blocks with extreme precision. It is unique harmony of architecture and sculpture according to antique ideals. From inside, there is no flat wall. In the middle of chapel, on the altar, lays the sarcophagus of blessed John of Trogir. Surrounding are reliefs of puttos carrying torches that look like they were peeping out of doors of Underworld. Above them there are niches with sculptures of Christ and apostles (the principle work of Aleši), amongst them are putties, circular windows encircled with fruit garland, and a relief of Nativity. All is ceiled with coffered ceiling with image of God in the middle and 96 portrait heads of angels. With so many faces of smiling children the chapel looks very cheerful and there isn’t nothing similar in European art of that time.