Francesco the "Florentine" was an Italian renaissance architect and sculptor from Florence, Italy. His date of birth is unknown. He died 16 October 1516 in Kraków, Poland. Life This Italian architect was the earliest representative of the renaissance in Poland. There is no information about his life or his work before he arrived there. He probably appeared for the first time in Kraków in February 1502 at Prince Sigismund's request, and may have come with him from Hungary. Prince Sigismund later became the Grand Duke of Lithuania (20 October 1506 – 1 April 1548) and the King of Poland (24 January 1507 – 1 April 1548) as Sigismund I (commonly referred to as Sigismund I the Old), and was the main promoter of the renaissance style in Poland. In fact, Prince Sigismund arrived from Hungary not only with Francesco Fiorentino, but with an entire architectural-sculptural team composed mainly of Florentines. Prince Sigismund reportedly offered Fiorentino a one-year service with 100 florins (gold coins from Florence) salary. The prince reportedly set up a studio, which was led by Fiorentino, near his residence. From February 1502, Fiorentino lived and worked in Kraków with exceptions for journeys to Buda, Hungary in 1507 and 1510. Works The first work Fiorentino undertook was rebuilding two wings of the royal Wawel Castle, which had burned in 1499. At first he worked on the western wing called "the Queen’s House" (1502-1507), which was intended for the home of dowager Queen Elisabeth, prince Sigismund's mother. It was the first stage of rebuilding this edifice in the renaissance style. The remainder of this rebuilding was bas-relief window frames on the second level of the courtyard side. One of these frames in relief is the setting of the bay window. Afterwards, Fiorentino worked on the northern wing (1507–16). Fiorentino was the designer of the galleries enclosing the large castle courtyard. It was the most important part (in artistic way) of rebuilding by this Italian man. Building started in 1507, after Fiorentino's death in 1516 it was continued by Bartolomeo Berrecci (1480-1537), and then after his death by his collaborators. This courtyard is considered to be the most beautiful renaissance courtyard in Central Europe. The galleries, which made the main communication area of the building were used to representative and sociable goals. It also enabled royal people assisting in ceremonies and tournaments. The galleries were built on three levels and spread