MAITANI, LORENZO

(c. 1270-1330)

Italian sculptor and architect from Siena. In 1308, Maitani was summoned to Orvieto to reinforce the apse and transept of the city's cathedral, which had weakened. In 1310, he was appointed Director of Cathedral Works, a position he held until his death in 1330. In this capacity, he was charged with the design of the cathedral's façade and its reliefs, which include scenes from the Book of Genesis (from the Creation to the descendants of Cain), the Tree of Jesse, the prophecies of the coming of Christ and his sacrifice for humanity, the story of salvation, Last Judgment, Resurrection, and paradise. Also attributed to Maitani is theEnthronedVirginand Childrevealed by angels who part the curtains of the canopy that contains them above the cathedral's west portal. Maitani's style in these reliefs is closely tied to the medieval tradition and is characterized by busy scenes with figures in contorted poses. For this, he is classified as one of the most expressive sculptors of the Proto-Renaissance era.