Pisano, NICCOLA, a distinguished sculptor of Pisa, was born, apparently near Lucca, about 1206.
His earliest work is supposed to be the 'Deposition' over one of the doors of the cathedral at Lucca, dated 1237. His reputation is supported by three important works, which are still admired for their excellence—the pulpit of the baptistery at Pisa (1260), the 'Arca' or shrine of St Dominic for the church of that saint at Bologna (1267), and the pulpit of the cathedral at Siena (1268). He died at Pisa in 1278, and was buried in the Campo-Santo. He was also a great architect and a skilful engineer. His influence on art was wide, reviving the love of beauty and giving new birth to the plastic arts. His pupils Arnolfo and Lapo executed numerous works at Rome, Siena, and other cities. His son and heir in reputation, GIOVANNI PISANO (1250-1330), was not his equal either as sculptor or as architect. Nicola's pupil Andrea de Pontedera, generally called ANDREA PISANO (1270-1349), was first a goldsmith, but became famous as a worker in bronze and a sculptor in marble. He settled in Florence, and his best work there (one of the baptistery doors and many sculptures on the Campanile) shows strong traces of Giotto's influence. Vittore Pisano, or Pisanello (1380-1456), was both fresco-painter and medallist. See Crowe and Cavalcaselle, Painting in Italy (1864); Symond's Renaissance in Italy (1886); Leader Scott, Early Italian Sculptors (1882).