PRIMATICCIO, Francesco
(b. 1504, Bologna, d. 1570, Paris)

Exterior view

c. 1543
Photo
Grotte des Pins, Château, Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne)

Primaticcio became active in the field of architecture at last part of his career. He seems to have approached architecture through decorative sculpture, and the first works which can be plausibly be attributed to him are on the borderline between the two arts. One of these is the grotto of the Jardin des Pins at Fontainebleau. It shows him influenced by the rusticated work of Giulio Romano. The conception of the grotto , with its giants emerging from a rocky background suggests that Primaticcio knew sketches for Giulio's frescoes of the Fall of the Giants in the Palazzo del Tè in Mantua, although the actual frescoes were executed just after he left Mantua.