Piero della Francesca
Born – Borgo Sansepolcro, Italy c.1419
Died – Borgo Sansepolcro, Italy 1492
The career of Piero della Francesca began in Florence as an assistant to Veneziano, but he spent most of his time in his home town of Borgo, where he was a town councillor. He was influenced by the achievements of his artistic predecessors and contemporaries such as Masaccio, Uccello and Donatello; his own fascination with mathematics became his unique contribution. In the 1470s, he stopped painting, dedicating his time instead to writing two treatises on geometry and perspective. There is a timeless, serene air to his paintings, and it seems fitting that he often delayed completing commissioned work. In Resurrection he paints Christ as a robust and muscular man, and the moment of his triumphal return to life, in a solemn and calm manner. This austere mood is increased by the use of pale, fresco colours and soft lighting. There is little to divert attention away from the direct gaze of Christ. Although well-known in his lifetime, Piero della Francesca’s art was neglected until the nineteenth century, when his reputation as one of the greatest painters of the early Renaissance was established.
Masterpieces:
- The Baptism
- Constantine’s Dream
Text: The A-Z of Art, Nicola Hodge and Libby Anson.
Books About piero della francesca
Piero della Francesca: The Frescoes of San Francesco in Arrezzo
Carlo Bertelli
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Piero della Francesca
Roberto Longhi
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Piero della Francesca: A Mathematician's Art
J.V. Field
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