Francesco Fiorentino

Francesco the "Florentine" was an Italian renaissance architect and sculptor from Florence, Italy. His date of birth is unknown. He died 16 October 1516 in Kraków.

This Italian architect was the earliest representative of renaissance in Poland. There is no information about his life or his work before he came to Poland. Probably he appeared for the first time in Poland, Kraków in February 1502 for Prince Zygmunt’s request. Zygmunt I Stary (1 January 1467 – 1 April 1548) was the King of Poland (24 January 1507 – 1 April 1548) and Grand Duke of Lithuania (20 October 1506 – 1 April 1548) and was the main promoter of renaissance style in Poland. Prince Zygmunt offered him one-year service with 100 florins (gold coins from Florence) salary. Probably, Fiorentine arrived with prince Zygmunt from Hungary. From February, 1502 Francesco lived and worked in Kraków, Poland with exceptions for journeys to Buda (Budapest), Hungary in 1507 and 1510. Prince Zygmunt arrived from Hungary not only with Franscesco Fiorentino, but with whole architectural-sculptural team mainly composed from Florentines people. Prince set up a studio near to his residence, which was led by Fiorentine.

The first work he undertook was rebuilding two wings of Wawel Castle (Royal Castle on Wawel), which was burned in 1500. At first he worked on the Western wing called ‘Queen’s House’ (1502-1507), which was intended for Elżbieta’s home – prince Zygmunt’s mother. It was the first stage of rebuilding in renaissance style of this residence. Remainder of this rebuilding are reliefly frames of windows on the second level from courtyard side. One of this reliefly frames is the setting of the bay window. Then he worked on the northern wing (1507–16). It is hard to describe scope of his works, but supposedly he is, among the other things, the author of decoration rocks – the frame of windows and bay window on the second floor of elevation from the courtyard in Western wing.

Fiorentine was the author of galleries enclosing large castle courtyard. It was the most important part (in artistic way) of rebuilding by this Italian man. Building started in 1507 and was continuing by Bartolomeo Berrecci (1480-1537) (Italian architect and sculptor from renaissance, who also worked for Zygmunt I Stary in Kraków) and after his death by his collaborators. This courtyard is considered as the most beautiful renaissance courtyard in the Middle Europe. The galleries, which made the main communication area of the building were used to representative and sociable goals. It also enabled royal people assisting in ceremonies and tournaments. The galleries were built on three levels and spread on wing walls of the castle. It has arcades on a first and second levels. It makes impression that it tidy up the courtyard in a spatial way and decorate it. Fiorentine, as a renaissance architect was deriving from Antic art, but in a freely way, so that architectural order is not in accordance with classical rules. In the highest level, each of the galleries is folding from two stems, which are put up one on the other and connected by knots, which never meet. It has triple function: connecting, crowning and bearing. Worth of comment are also jugs placed on a capitals. This rebuilding changed gothic castle into renaissance residence.

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