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Lotti, Cosimo
(b Florence, 1570–80; d Madrid, 24 Dec 1643). Italian architect. His career began in Florence, where he was apprenticed to Bernardino Poccetti. He collaborated with Bernardo Buontalenti on the decoration (1593) of the Boboli Gardens and created several hydraulic systems for the gardens of Pratolino and Castello. He designed trophies to adorn the Via Tornabuoni façade of the Palazzo Strozzi and worked on stage settings, mainly with the dramatist Jacopo Cicognini at the court of Grand Duke Ferdinand I of Tuscany. Lotti was sent to Spain in 1626 by Grand Duke Cosimo II to serve at the court of King Philip IV. His accomplishments enabled Philip to compete with the splendour of contemporary Italian and French courts by renovating the royal gardens, which had fallen into disrepair after the expulsion of Moorish engineers, and by producing spectacular theatre settings. Lotti designed a new theatre at the royal palace of Zarzuela (1634; destr.) and the Coliseo de Comedias (begun 1638, first performance Feb 1640; destr.) at the palace of Buen Retiro, complete with sets and stage machinery. As fontanero (garden engineer), he also renovated the gardens of the royal palaces of Aranjuez, El Pardo, Zarzuela and Buen Retiro in the Italian manner, with innovative hydraulic systems. Aranjuez, in particular, was based on the Boboli model, with parterres and copses interspersed with numerous fountains and water games; it was highly praised by contemporary writers.
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