Jacopo Sansovino

Jacopo Sansovino was a major figure of the Italian Renaissance. He worked as both a sculptor and an architect. His talent helped shape the look of Venice. He is most famous for his many works near Piazza San Marco. These buildings are vital to the history of Venetian Renaissance architecture. The famous architect Andrea Palladio even called Sansovino's Biblioteca Marciana the best building built since Antiquity.

Sansovino began his career in Florence, Italy. He was born on July 2, 1486. He started as an apprentice to Andrea Sansovino. He eventually adopted that name, changing it from his birth name, Jacopo Tatti. In Rome, he worked with wax models. He once made a wax model of the Deposition of Christ for the artist Perugino. Around 1510, the architect Bramante invited him to make wax copies of the Laocoön. This is a famous ancient sculpture. The great artist Raphael judged Sansovino's copy to be the best.

His early career included several important marble commissions. In Florence, he created a marble statue of St. James for the Duomo. He also sculpted a Bacchus, which is now held in the Bargello. However, not every project was a success. He proposed sculptures for the façade of the Church of San Lorenzo. Michelangelo was in charge of that project and rejected his ideas. Sansovino was so upset that he wrote a bitter letter of protest in 1518. During the years 1510 to 1517, he also shared a studio with the painter Andrea del Sarto. They even shared their artistic models with one another.

Sansovino's life took a major turn when he moved to Venice. He left Rome during the year of the Sack of Rome. In 1529, he received a very important job. He became the chief architect and superintendent of properties for the Procurators of San Marco. This role is known as the Protomaestro or Proto. This position made him one of the most influential artists in the city. His new job came with a salary of 80 ducats. He also received an apartment near the clocktower in San Marco. Within just one year, his salary increased to 180 ducats per year.

As the Proto, Sansovino completed many prominent structures. He worked on the Zecca, which is a public mint. He also designed the highly decorated Loggetta. This structure sits next to the Campanile tower.

He created many statues and reliefs for the Basilica of San Marco. His work also included rebuilding several churches. These included San Zulian, San Francesco della Vigna, San Martino, and the church of the Incurabili. He even worked on the Santo Spirito in Isola. He also helped design various palaces, such as Palazzo Corner and Palazzo Dolfin Manin.

His undisputed masterpiece is the Biblioteca Marciana. This is the Library of Saint Mark's. It is located in front of the Doge's Palace across the piazzetta.

The construction of this library was a massive undertaking. It spanned fifty years to complete. The total cost was over 30,000 ducats. Sansovino used the language of classicism in this building. Classicism is an architectural style often known for being severe and restrained. However, Sansovino added rich surface decoration. This made the style more appealing to the people of Venice. This approach paved the way for the graceful architecture of Andrea Palladio.

Sansovino left a lasting legacy through his students and his tomb. His most important follower in sculpture was Alessandro Vittoria. Another disciple was the architect and sculptor Danese Cattaneo. Sansovino died in Venice on November 27, 1570. His tomb can be found in the Baptistery of St. Mark's Basilica. His life shows how an artist can move between different cities and roles to change the history of art forever.