Archangelo Arcano

rdf:langString Archangelo Arcano

rdf:langString Archangelo Arcano was an Italian military engineer who worked for Henry VIII of England from 1523. His name appears in various forms in records and correspondence, including "Arkan", "Master Archan", and "Arkaungell Arcan". Arcano was one of the royal "gunners". He had a servant, and was accompanied in 1529 by Raphael Arcano, who had the same fee and may have been his brother. Raphael and a third member of the family, Francesco, their father, are identified as gun-founders. One surviving cannon is engraved "Franciscus Arcanus, Italus", and a brass culverin recovered from the Mary Rose has "Arcanus de Arcanis, Cesenem". The family worked at the royal gun foundry at Salisbury Palace, and Archangelo Arcano is thought to have designed iron guns cast at Buxted in the Weald, including a saker recovered from Padstow harbour in 1895. The family is thought to have originated from Cesena, and recruited to English service by Gregory da Casale. Francesco Arcano had worked on the defences of Cesena with the painter and architect Girolamo Genga, and his portrait is said to be included in an altarpiece by Genga now at the Pinacoteca di Brera. As an architect, Genga is known for his works for Eleonora Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino. In England, Francesco was listed in 1541 as an alien in Farringdon Ward Without. His son, Archangelo Arcano was made a denizen of England in August 1541. He presented Henry VIII with a pair of perfumed gloves as a New Year's Day gift in January 1540. Names of Italian gunners in 1523 were listed in the account of the treasurer of King's Chamber for a payment of £206-9s-10d., made to "Fraunces Archano, Archan his son, Christofer Florent', Jacono Florent', Jerom de Milan, Anthony de Napoll, Michaell de Manna, Magnus de Monfera, Buttesago de Cezena, Italyons, gonners, retyned to do the kynges servyce in his warres". Another record of this army, at Calais, commanded by Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, mentions "Francisco Arcano, master of the Mynes" and "Angelo de Racavado". Arcano and Giovanni Portinari demolished Lewes Priory for Thomas Cromwell.