Ambrogio Bondone Giotto
Born – Florence, Italy c.1266
Died – Florence, Italy 1337
Giotto was the son of a farmer. The painter Cimabue allegedly spotted him making rudimentary drawings of sheep and invited him to work with him. Under Cimabue’s tutelage, Giotto quickly developed his own style, overshadowing that of his master. Dante wrote, “Cimabue was thought to hold the field in painting; but now Giotto is all the cry and Cimabue’s style is badly dimmed”. He became something of a legend in his own lifetime. Poets and commentators were united in their praise of his revolutionary naturalistic and narrative style. He broke free from the stylized linearity of the Byzantine tradition, and introduced solid forms and a sense of depth into his compositions. Giotto’s understanding of colour and the way it changes in response to light has continued to ensure his reputation as a “modern” painter. St Francis Preaching to the Birds was part of a cycle of frescoes that he designed for the Upper Church in Assisi. It shows his humanistic approach and his ability to invest sacred figures with compassion and genuine emotion.
Masterpieces:
- The Mourning of Christ
- Madonna and Child
Text: The A-Z of Art, Nicola Hodge and Libby Anson