Colleoni, Bartolomeo
Colleoni, Bartolomeo
(bärtōlōmĕ`ō kōl-lāô`nē), 1400–1475, Italian soldier of fortune. A condottierecondottiere[Ital.,=leader], leader of mercenary soldiers in Italy in the 14th and 15th cent., when wars were almost incessant there. The condottieri hired and paid the bands who fought under them.
..... Click the link for more information. , Colleoni fought in the wars between Venice and Milan, often changing sides and distrusted by both. In 1454 he deserted Milan for the last time and became generalissimo of Venice, a post he held until his death. The beautiful Colleoni Chapel is in his native city, Bergamo, and the celebrated equestrian statue of him by VerrocchioVerrocchio, Andrea del
, 1435–88, Florentine sculptor and painter, whose real name was Andrea di Michele di Francesco di Cioni. He was a leading figure in the early Renaissance, and his workshop was a center for the training of young artists in Florence.
..... Click the link for more information. is in Venice.