Ligorio (Pirro) 1493-1580
Ligorio, the Neapolitan architect, was also distinguished as antiquary, sculptor and engineer; he worked much in sgraffiti. He built the beautiful Villa Pia in the Vatican gardens, and the Villa d’Este at Tivoli, and made additions to the Vatican. The Library in Turin possesses his numerous manuscripts, some of which have been published. His best-known works are “An Attempt to Restore Ancient Rome” and “The Restoration of Hadrian’s Villa,” the plates for which were engraved on copper by Francesco Contini in 1751.