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The most artistically significant of the four Cosma brothers was Giovanni di Cosma; at least three wall tombs with figures made by him are known from the last years of the 13th century. The most original, and the most impressive on account of its effigy, is that of Stefano de Surdis in Santa Balbina, Rome. The other tombs, that of Guillelmus Durandus (d 1296) in Santa Maria sopra Minerva and that of Cardinal Gonzalo García Gudiel (d 1299) in Santa Maria Maggiore, follow the model developed by Arnolfo di Cambio in the way the effigy of the deceased is shown lying on a bier. Giovanni di Cosma retained an independent approach as a sculptor, however, and his portrayal of the sunken features of age is realistic compared with the soft, slurred death portraits of Arnolfo.
Immediately to the right of the main entrance of Santa Balbina is the tomb of Stefano de Surdis. He is often erroneously called a cardinal, but he was in fact the cappellano del papa, the papal chaplain. De Surdis died in about 1300 and his wonderful tomb was made in 1303 by Giovanni di Cosma. His name is mentioned on the monument.
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