Earliest of great Italian sculptors. Probably born c.1207in Apulia, Italy; died in 1278 in Pisa, Italy. He is famous for the hexagonal pulpit of the baptistery of Pisa, a combination of French Gothic design in the trefoil arches and sculptured capitals, with classic influence in the figures and reliefs. Three of its columns rest on lions. The reliefs of the balustrade give scenes from the New Testament. His octagonal pulpit in the cathedral of Siena is more elaborate, but lacks the unity of the first. He designed the beautiful fountain of Perugia, and executed most of its statuettes. One of his earliest works was the Descent from the Cross in the tympanum of the Lucca cathedral.