Benedetto da Maiano

There he learned to work with marble and eventually became more famous than Rossellino and one of the most important sculptors of the 15th century.

During his early life, he specialised in wood-mosaic, with the Studiolo of Federico da Montefeltro and other works.

King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary invited him to his court, and it is said that the destruction on the journey of some inlay work he was taking to his royal patron made him decide to seek more durable material.

[1] His early attributed works include a shrine dedicated to San Savino for the cathedral of Faenza.

Although he was more prolific in sculpting religious subjects, he also carved some portraits of important Florentines; for instance, in 1474, the bust of Pietro Mellini in the Bargello.