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GROSSO, Niccolò - b. ~1480 Firenze, d. 0 ? - WGA

GROSSO, Niccolò

(b. ~1480 Firenze, d. 0 ?)

Italian ironsmith. He was praised by Vasari as the best of ironsmiths. His nickname, Il Caparra, (“payment in advance”) presumably refers to his financial arrangements. His finest work is mounted on the exterior of the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence and includes a lantern shaped like a temple and flag-pole holders decorated with fabulous creatures.

Torch-holder

The external decoration of the Florentine palaces was very limited: the stone bench, the entrance gate with its studded doors, the wrought-iron lantern to be seen at the corners, the banner holders, the torch holders, the ringed hinges, again in wrought-iron, the family coat of arms.

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