(b ?Florence, c. 1430–?1440; d Poggio a Caiano, nr Florence, 28 Dec 1491). Italian sculptor and medallist. Throughout most of his career he was a member of Lorenzo the Magnificent’s Florentine household and in his old age was put in charge of the academy that met in the Medici sculpture garden. Bertoldo’s work contributed to the antique revival, and, in particular, he developed the genre of the bronze statuette, of which six examples by him survive. He also produced bronze reliefs and medals as well as working in other media. It is very likely that he is identifiable with one Bertoldo di Giovanni di Bertoldo, who was involved in a minor commercial transaction in 1463.

• Bertoldo di Giovanni
  • Academy, §1: Origins and early development
  • Art education, §2: The rise of the academy, 16th and 17th centuries
  • Florence, §V, 2: Medici Academy
  • Italy, §XVI, 2: Art education: Academies
  • Sansovino, Andrea, §1(i): Florence and Portugal, to 1505
  • assistants
    • Adriano Fiorentino
  • attributions
    • Francesco di Giorgio Martini, §3: Sculpture
  • collaboration
    • Bellano, Bartolomeo
  • competitions
    • Competition, §II, 1: Sculpture: Italy
  • patrons and collectors
    • Italy, §IV, 3(i)(a): Early Renaissance sculpture, c 1400–c 1480: Florence
    • Medici, de’: (5) Lorenzo the Magnificent
    • Poggio a Caiano, Villa Medici
    • Sassetti, Francesco
  • pupils
    • Granacci, Francesco
    • Italy, §IV, 3(ii)(c): High Renaissance sculpture, c 1480–c 1530: Michelangelo in Florence & Rome
    • Michelangelo, §I, 1(i): Sculpture: Training and early work, to c 1505
    • Torrigiani, Pietro, §1(i): Italy and Avignon, to 1506
  • works
    • Guacialoti, Andrea
    • Italy, §IV, 3(i)(a): Early Renaissance sculpture, c 1400–c 1480: Florence
    • Medal, §II, 1: 15th century
    • Statuette, §II, 1(i)(a): 15th century: Central Italy