Giorgio Da Sebenico - Life

Life

Giorgio da Sebenico was probably born in the Dalmatian city of Zara (now Zadar, Croatia), which was part of the Republic of Venice.

He emigrated to Venice during his youth, where he was educated as sculptor in the workshop of Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon. He helped them creating the decorations on the Porta della Carta of the Doge's Palace. Comparative analysis of his early achievements suggests that since the beginning his works were marked by a distinctive, original style,. Indeed, outside of architectural details, it looks that he learned little from his masters and that by that time he was already working in the workshop as a companion or independent associate. In Venice he married Elisabetta Da Monte (daughter of Gregorio da Monte, a Venetian carpenter), who brought him as her dowry some houses in Venice.

In 1441, when still resident in Venice, Giorgio was summoned to Šibenik in order to take charge of the construction of the Cathedral of St. James. He moved by the end of August, under the condition set in the contract with the procurators of the Cathedral to take up residence there for six years. On the 1st of September 1446 he agreed to extend his contract as chief architect for another ten years. Giorgio was granted permission to remain in Venice for two months every two years on condition that he did no work there except on his own house. He will work on the Cathedral from 1441 till 1473, although discontinuously because the work were interrupted several times for lack of funds and probably for a fire. Between 1451 and 1459 he moved to Ancona and returned in Sebenico later.

He is believed to have died in Sebenico on or around 10 November 1475.