- Giotto de Bondone -

contributed by Morgan Mander

Giotto de Bondone is considered the 1^st art genius of Italian renaissance. He was born in 1267 and died in 1337.  He was a  Florentine painter, sculptor and architect.  His paintings were mainly of religious subjects.  He was respected for his grasp of human emotion and showing the significance in human life.  This skill was greater than technical skills.  This work of sacred events demonstrated a feeling of moral weight rather than divine splendor.  He was also distinguished for his representation of space.  He allied figures with their background through strength and simplicity of his forms.  He is considered the   founder of the central tradition of western painting. He broke free from Byzantine art with new ideals of naturalism.  His work was bulky and monumental compared to the graceful work of the Byzantine era.  He is well-known for his frescoes  in in Scrovegni (Arena) chapel in Padua.  Frescoes are painting on fresh, still wet plaster.  The Arena Chapel is considered a major work of art in European history.  He also became the architect for the Cathedral in Florence after the original architect died.                  

Arena Chapel in Padua. 

Thirty-eight of Giotto de Bondone's frescoes make this Chapel one of the great work of European history.  The Mourning of Christ, above, is one of the frescoes in this chapel. 

Sources:

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/giotto.  - 19 September 2003

http://www.italianpainters.it/images/chapel.jpg - 19 September 2003

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/Giotto_WorksofArt.asp - 19 September 2003