Giovanni Pisano

Sculptor and architect, born in Pisa, W Italy, the son of Nicola Pisano. He worked with his father on the pulpit in Siena, the fountain in Perugia, and the facade of Siena Cathedral (1284–6) on which were positioned a number of expressive life-size statues. He also sculpted figures for the entrance to the Baptistery at Pisa (now in the Museo Nazionale), and made a number of free-standing Madonnas, the most famous of which is in the Arena Chapel, Padua. Undoubtedly the greatest sculptor of his day in the Italian Gothic tradition, his innovations pointed the way to Renaissance sculptural ideals.

Giovanni Pisano (c. Son of the famous sculptor Nicola Pisano, he received his training in the workshop of his father.

In 1265-1268 he worked with his father at the pulpit in the Siena cathedral. The fountain Fontana Maggiora in Perugia was his next major work with his father. These first works were made in his father's style.

His next work was in Pisa, sculpting the statues in the two rows of traceried gables at the exterior of the Baptistry (1277-1284). The vivacity of these statues is a new confirmation that he is leaving the serene style of his father behind.

He was appointed at the same time chief architect of the Siena cathedral between 1287 and 1296.

In 1296 he returned to Pisa to begin work on the San Giovanni church. In 1301 he continued his work on the pulpit for the church of S.

His work between 1302 and 1310 at the new pulpit for the Cathedral of Pisa shows his distinct preference for movement in his characters, moving even further away his father's style.

The church of San Nicola in Pisa was enlarged between 1297 and 1313 by the Augustinians, perhaps by the design of Giovanni Pisano.

His last major work dates probably from 1313 when he made a monument in memory of Margaret of Brabant (who died in 1311) at the request of her husband emperor Henry VII.

His works shows a mixture of French Gothic and the classical style, and Henry Moore referred to him as "the first modern sculptor".

One of his pupils was Giovanni di Balduccio, who also became a famous sculptor, and the architect and sculptor Agostino da Siena. Giorgio Vasari included a biography of Pisano in his book Le vite dei più eccellenti pittori, scultori, e architetti

The asteroid 7313 Pisano was named to honour Nicola and Govanni Pisano.