Paolo Uccello
Born – Florence, Italy c.1396
Died – Florence, Italy 1475
Uccello was the son of a barber-surgeon called Paolo di Dono, but may have taken his name from his love of birds – Uccello means bird in Italian. He was an apprentice to the sculptor, Ghiberti, from c.1407 to 1414 and then left to join the guild of the Medici e Specilali. The Battle of San Romano is one of three panels commissioned by the Medicis. It depicts the rout of San Romano on June 1, 1432. For the year prior to this date, the Sienese had been ravaging Florentine territory and finally at this battle, the Florentines were victorious. Uccello’s works, interpreting hostilities, are an unusual marriage of old and new. The strong decorative element, with the patchwork of hills in the background, the flora and fauna and the frieze-like battle scene itself are all reminiscent of medieval tapestries. However, our overriding impression is of an artist who revelled in exploiting the novel rules of perspective and who was particularly preoccupied with foreshortening. Ultimately, it is for this that we remember Uccello. According to Vasari, Uccello ended his days, “solitary, eccentric, melancholy[ic] and poor”. It was a sad demise for a master of hitherto unknown pictorial liveliness.
Masterpieces:
- St George and the Dragon
- The Deluge
Text: The A-Z of Art, Nicola Hodge and Libby Anson.
Books About paolo uccello
Paolo Uccello
Franco Borsi
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Paolo Uccello's The Hunt in the Forest
Catherine Whistler
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Paolo Uccello: Artist of the Florentine Renaissance Republic
Hugh Hudson
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