Matteo Nigetti
Encyclopedia
Matteo Nigetti was an Italian architect and sculptor. He is considered the most important Baroque
architect in Florence
.
Born in Florence, he was the pupil and assistant of Bernardo Buontalenti
, with whom he collaborated on the Palazzo Nonfinito (1593) (ie the unfinished palace, which now houses the National Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology in Florence).
Nigetti's masterwork is the Cappella dei Principi ("Princes' Chapel"), part of the church of San Lorenzo in Florence. It was commissioned by Grand Duke Ferdinand I, and Nigetti spent forty years of his life, from 1604 until his death, in its completion. He was assisted by Don Giovanni de' Medici
, Ferdinand's brother, and Alessandro Pieroni.
In parallel, Nigetti was one of the main architects, along with Gherardo Silvani
, who produced the church of San Gaetano, Florence
, developing an original design by Buontalenti. Nigetti also designed the original façade of the Ognissanti church. His brother Giovanni, also an architect, often collaborated with him.
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
architect in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
.
Born in Florence, he was the pupil and assistant of Bernardo Buontalenti
Bernardo Buontalenti
Bernardo Buontalenti, byname of Bernardo Delle Girandole was an Italian stage designer, architect, theatrical designer, military engineer and artist.-Biography:Buontalenti was born in Florence....
, with whom he collaborated on the Palazzo Nonfinito (1593) (ie the unfinished palace, which now houses the National Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology in Florence).
Nigetti's masterwork is the Cappella dei Principi ("Princes' Chapel"), part of the church of San Lorenzo in Florence. It was commissioned by Grand Duke Ferdinand I, and Nigetti spent forty years of his life, from 1604 until his death, in its completion. He was assisted by Don Giovanni de' Medici
Don Giovanni de' Medici
thumb|left|Don Giovanni de' Medici.Don Giovanni de' Medici was an Italian military commander and diplomat....
, Ferdinand's brother, and Alessandro Pieroni.
In parallel, Nigetti was one of the main architects, along with Gherardo Silvani
Gherardo Silvani
Gherardo Silvani was an Italian architect and sculptor, active mainly in Florence and other sites in Tuscany during the Baroque period....
, who produced the church of San Gaetano, Florence
San Gaetano, Florence
San Gaetano, also known as Santi Michele e Gaetano is a Baroque church in Florence, Italy, located on the Piazza Antinori.-History:The church was built for the Theatine order, who obtained funding from the noble families in Florence, including the Medicis. Cardinal Carlo de' Medici was...
, developing an original design by Buontalenti. Nigetti also designed the original façade of the Ognissanti church. His brother Giovanni, also an architect, often collaborated with him.