Giovanni Cristoforo Romano

Who was Giovanni Cristoforo Romano?

Giovanni Cristoforo Romano was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and medallist.

Born in Rome to Isaia da Pisa, he was probably a pupil of Andrea Bregno. His first known works are in the Ducal Palace of Urbino, dating from before 1482. Later he worked as medallist for the courts of Ferrara and Mantua, where he was a favourite of duchess Isabella d'Este.

In 1491 he moved to Milan called by Isabella's brother-in-law Ludovico Sforza, who commissioned him the tomb of Gian Galeazzo Visconti at the Certosa di Pavia, which he executed in collaboration with Benedetto Briosco. After the fall of the Sforza he returned to work for Isabella d'Este, for which he executed some fine medals and the precious marble portal of her study in the Ducal Palace of Mantua.

Later he sojourned in Rome, Naples, Cremona, and again Milan and Urbino.

The tripartite marble altar-piece in the Costa Chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo was probably created by him for Cardinal Jorge da Costa around 1505.

He died in 1512.