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Goldsmith, medalist, wax modeler, born in Augsburg. In 1630 he was active as a wax modeler in Venice and he became medalist to Urban VIII, Innocent X and many cardinals. He made many enemies in Rome and is believed to have been a professional rival of both Mola and Morone-Mola. Known for his licentious speaking, he reportedly represented Pope Innocent X on a medal with his mistress, Olimpia Maldalchini, as a result of which he was tried before the Inquisition and put in prison. Martinori (fasc. xiv, pp. 69-70, n. 2) denies that a feud with Mola could have caused Cormano's fall from favor and subsequent suicide, since Mola died in 1640 and Cormano was active in making medals of Pope Innocent X in 1644-45. The artist may have remained active until 1672 for a medal of Flavio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano, bearing that date and signed by Cormano is recorded (Pollard, Udine, p. 159, n. 10). See Forrer 3, pp. 206-08; Thieme-Becker 21, p. 319; Kress, p. 92; Pyke, p. 74, fig. 155. --- from The Molinari Collection, Andrea S. Norris and Ingrid Weber, Published by Bowdoin College, 1976