Background
He was the son of Benedetto da Maiano.
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Giovanni Maiano
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Maiano, from which village Giovanni took his name, is near Fiesole and Florence. In June 1521, Giovanni wrote from Rome in Latin to Cardinal Wolsey requesting payment for his work at Hampton Court. He had made, painted, and gilded, eight terracotta medallions costing £2 6s 8d each, with three Stories of Hercules costing £4 each, with 20 shillings expense on fixing the sculptures.
Some of these medallions commissioned by Wolsey can still be seen in place on the palace.
From 1527 Giovanni worked with Hans Holbein the Younger on decorations at Greenwich Palace for Henry VIII. Some of his relief decorations for a temporary banqueting house were made with old linen cloth in a papier-mâché technique. Edward Hall described these decorations in his Chronicle.
The windows of the banqueting house had grotesque-work, "karved with vinettes and trailes of savage worke, and richly gilted with gold and bice," on the arches at either end of the hall were made "many sundry antiques and devices". The engraved decoration of armour produced in the royal workshop at Greenwich is thought to have been influenced by Giovanni"s Italian renaissance style.
The artist and biographer of artists, Giorgio Vasari mentions the project under Benedetto"s name, but thought the tomb was for Henry VIII.
