Book Review

Emil Hilje, Bartolomeo del Mestre, Masters of His Circle, and the Completion of the Šibenik Cathedral

Abstract

Emil Hilje’s book explores the previously least known chapter in the construction of the Šibenik Cathedral of St James: the last six decades from the death of Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino (around 1506) until the Cathedral’s consecration in 1556 and the subsequent restoration of its roof a decade later. While the book does not entirely fulfil the aim of precisely delineating the roles of the last two protomasters, Bartolomeo del Mestre and his son Giacomo, it offers valuable insights into the activities of master builders from their immediate and extended circles. Notably, Bartolomeo’s second son, Francesco, known as Checco, emerges as a significant figure. Hilje’s meticulous investigation of archival sources in Šibenik has unearthed a vast amount of previously unknown documents, shedding light on major and minor contributors to the Cathedral’s completion, including some picturesque secondary figures. Thus, the book provides a well-rounded, attractive, and compelling reading that enriches the study of the Šibenik Cathedral and paints a vivid picture of King Krešimir’s city in a difficult period of its history.