Andrea Pisano, an Italian sculptor and architect, born in Pisa in 1270, died in Florence in 1345. He was one of the first to depart from the Gothic style in art. After having been employed at the cathedral of Pisa, in the execution of the bronzes at Perugia, and of some small figures in marble for Santa Maria al Ponte at Pisa, he was invited to assist in completing the facade of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore of Florence. He also executed a marble statue of Boniface VIII., and statues of St. Peter and St. Paul, for the same church, which were much admired. After having spent some time at Venice, where he made several small statues for the front of St. Mark's, he returned to Florence, and after the death of Arnolfo di Lapo was placed in charge of all the public works. He executed the bronze relievi for the gates of the baptistery, which gained for him great fame and the honorary citizenship of the republic. The subject is the life of St. John, and the incidents are represented in 22 compartments. He designed the castle of Scarperia, the arsenal of Venice, and the church of San Giovanni at Pistoia. By order of the adventurer called the duke of Athens, who in 1342 made himself by a coup-d'etat master of Florence, he fortified and enlarged the ducal palace, ornamented the city wall with towers and magnificent gates, and designed a small citadel.