Jacopo da Trezzo, birth name Jacopo Nizolla, was born near Milan, where he was trained as a medallist, sculptor and architect. He lived in the city until 1555, and was famous enough for Giorgio Vasari to commend him in the first edition of his Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects as executing 'many works worthy of praise ... [in] engraving in intaglio and in relief. He has no equal in making portraits from life ... his talent is extraordinary', although Vasari mistakes his first name for Cosimo. Between 1548 and 1578 da Trezzo produced eleven medals, eight of which are signed. He worked for King Philip II of Spain, the ruler of Milan, in the Low Countries from 1555 to 1559, and then in Spain for the rest of his life. As well as medals, cameos and goldwork, he carved decorative sculpture on a larger scale, including the great tabernacle of the high altar of the Capilla Mayor at the Escorial 1579-86 from designs by the architect Juan de Herrera. Jacopo da Trezzo died in Madrid on 23 September 1589, survived by his son, a sculptor of the same name.