Atalante Migliorotti

Atalante Migliorotti (1466 in Florence – 1532) was an Italian Renaissance musician, instrument maker and assistant to Leonardo da Vinci.^[1]

He was born of an illegitimate relationship. After being a pupil of Leonardo, who taught him music, he moved to Milan in 1482 to accompany his master. That same year, Leonardo is recorded as having painted his portrait; this is believed to be the Portrait of a Musician in the Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan.

In 1491, according to the wishes of Isabella d'Este, he sang the lead role in the opera on the subject of Orpheus, presented at the carnival in Marmirolo. His skills as a lutenist and lutemaker led, in 1493, to a commission from Isabella for a guitar, and in 1505 to another for a lirone, or twelve-stringed viol, played chordally.

He was also employed as coordinator of construction of St. Peter's Basilica.

References

^ Donald Sanders Music at the Gonzaga Court in Mantua 2012 p20 "The role of Orpheus was to be performed by Atalante Migliorotti (1466–1532) a singer, instrument maker and player of the lira da braccio, the instrument that typically represented Orpheus' lyre in Renaissance theatre. Atalante, a Florentine..."

[1] Donald Sanders Music at the Gonzaga Court in Mantua 2012 p20 "The role of Orpheus was to be performed by Atalante Migliorotti (1466–1532) a singer, instrument maker and player of the lira da braccio, the instrument that typically represented Orpheus' lyre in Renaissance theatre. Atalante, a Florentine..."

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