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Cosimo Lotti (1571–1643) was an Italian engineer, scenographer, and landscape designer. He worked around Florence until in his mid-fifties he moved to Madrid where he produced theatrical spectacles for the royal court.
Lotti was born inFlorence in 1571 and first became a pupil ofBernardino Poccetti. He then worked withBernardo Buontalenti on the lay out of theBoboli Gardens and went on to install water features in other gardens. His paintings included aBirth of Mary for the church of San Giorgio a Castelnuovo inPrato.
In 1626 he left Florence for Spain, at the request of theCount Duke of Olivares, to join the court ofPhilip IV as an engineer. As well as redesigning royal gardens in the Italianate style, particularly involving spectacular fountains, he impressed the King with his cleverly engineered theatrical special effects. This included an extravagant staging of a musical piece in the Italian style with poetry byLope de Vega.[1]
Lotti became the organiser of the theatre at thePalacio del Buen Retiro.[2] He was recognised by being given a royal pension and remained in Madrid until his death in 1643.
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