Domenico Gagini

Domenico Gaginis (* in Bissone, † September 29, 1492 in Palermo ) was an Italian sculptor of the early Renaissance. He was with his son Antonello Gaginis one of the most important sculptors of Sicily. Domenico Gaginis came from a Lombard sculptor dynasty. He was the son of Pietro Gaginis and father of Giovanni and Antonello Gaginis Gaginis, who took over his workshop in Palermo after his death. The largest part (1459-1492) of his life he resided in Sicily. About his childhood nothing is known.

Life

From about 1440 to 1446 he was at the Florentine sculptor and architect Brunelleschi in the doctrine, as can be concluded from his style. Filarete mentions in his treatise on architecture a Domenico di proveniente Dellago logano discepolo di Pippo di ser Brunellesco. In the period of 1447/1448 he was commissioned for a chapel and the portal of San Giovanni Battista church in Genoa, where he worked until about 1456. It was one of the most important there at the time the contracts awarded, which he executed with his nephew Elijah Gaginis and Pace Gaginis.

To 1457/1458 he went to the court of King Alfonso I, where he worked on the triumphal arch of Castel Nuovo and further orders executed on the farm, including the portal in the Sala dei Baroni. There he came into contact with the sculptor Francesco Laurana and the circle of artists around Laurana. His stay in Naples lasted only one year.

Work

Domenico Gaginis led the previously unknown style of the early Renaissance in Sicily one at a time at which the sculpture had reached a low point. From about 1460 to 1462 he worked on the mosaics in the left aisle of the Cappella Palatina in Palermo. This was followed by further orders for the chapels of Speciale family, for a chapel in the church of San Francesco d' Assisi in Palermo and the Chapel of Saint Christina in the Cathedral of Palermo. The chapel was destroyed during construction work in the cathedral in the 19th century. The surviving works Domenico Gagini are now in the Diocesan Museum di Palermo.

Next he created his workshop and tombs and sarcophagi for Antonio Speciale, Antonio Grignano, Francesco Valguarnera, Elisabetta Omodei, Giovanni Montaperto, Giovanni Branciforte, Artale Cardona. In addition, from his workshop emerged many Madonnas, portals, tabernacle and holy water basins. In his workshop in Palermo he employed many journeymen who worked for its files and partly acquired great skill to approach the style of their masters. His works can be found on the whole of Sicily.