Gioacchino de' Gigantibus

Gioacchino was born in Bavaria; his birthplace may have been Rothenburg ob der Tauber, but it has also been suggested that his epithet de' Gigantibus may be derived from the Nördlinger Ries, as the homonym Riese in German means "Giant".

[1] In Rome he worked on several books for high-ranking church officials, including for Jean Jouffroy, Cardinal Antonio de la Cerda and no less than four popes: Nicholas V, Callixtus III, Pius II and Paul II.

[1] In Naples he was employed continuously at the court until at least 1480, and received a regular salary in addition to payments for single commissions.

[1] In 1481 he returned to Rome, where he once more worked for the pope, first Sixtus IV,[4] and the last dated documents referring to his life are two payments for some miniatures by Innocent VIII, the sixth pope he worked for, effected in August and September of that year.

[1] Gioacchino de' Gigantibus was active as an illuminator, miniaturist and as a scribe and copyist.

[3] Throughout his life his style shows few signs of innovation or extensive development, but he was technically skilled and productive.