Biography of Giotto di Bondone
Giotto di Bondone was an Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor who was best known for the realistic and naturalistic style of his work. Giotto’s name is probably short for Ambrogiotto or Angelotto. Giotto was born in either 1266 or 1267. He was born in a farmhouse near Florence, Italy. Not a lot is known about his childhood, but historians believe that Giotto’s father was a peasant who seemed to be pretty well off, because he would have had to have money in order to purchase an apprenticeship for his son. As a boy, Giotto was well loved by his family and friends. He was happy and smart. He was a shepherd boy, and he drew pictures of his sheep on the rocks in the fields. According to legend, these pictures were so life-like that Cimabue--one of the two greatest painters in Tuscany, Italy, during that time--wanted to teach him. Giotto became Cimabue’s apprentice at his workshop. Giotto took his work very seriously, but had a good sense of humor. Giotto supposedly painted a fly on the nose of one of Cimabue's figures. The painting of the fly was so realistic that Cimabue tried to brush the fly off the figure before he realized it was painted on the sculpture.
During the Renaissance period, it was often necessary for artists to travel to complete their works. Giotto and Cimabue chose to go to Rome together in 1280. Between 1295 and 1300, Giotto created one of his most famous works, a mosaic called La Navicella, and several frescoes in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. Then, from 1303 through 1306, he painted frescoes in the Arena Chapel in Padua for the patron Enrico Scrovegni. These frescoes made up thirty-nine story-telling scenes. Two of these scenes are The Story of Joachim and Anna and The Last Judgement. In these paintings, Dante Alighieri’s influence on Giotto can be seen. Giotto’s style makes the artwork seem to be three-dimensional. People are affect by how alive his paintings seem to be. Two of Giotto’s other most famous pieces are Ognissanti Madonna (circa 1307) and Madonna and Child (circa 1320). Historians argue about whether or not other frescoes were painted by Giotto, and many of his paintings have been lost to time.
Giotto and other great thinkers of the time influenced each other. Giotto influenced his works on other artists such as Giusto de’ Menabuoi and Jacopo. Giotto was mentioned in the epic poem The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. He was honored by being named the Chief Architect at the Florence Cathedral.
Giotto also made time for life outside of his artwork. Giotto was married twice. There is not that much known about his first wife, but his second wife had eight kids with him. The second wife's name was Donna Ciuta di Lapo. One of their sons, Francesco became a painter like his father. Giotto died January 8, 1337. Historians are unsure about where he was buried, but most believe his remains are either in Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cathedral of Florence, or in the Church of Santa Reparata. Despite his death over 500 years ago, Giotto has had a great influence on modern day art and is still considered one of the best Renaissance artists.
During the Renaissance period, it was often necessary for artists to travel to complete their works. Giotto and Cimabue chose to go to Rome together in 1280. Between 1295 and 1300, Giotto created one of his most famous works, a mosaic called La Navicella, and several frescoes in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. Then, from 1303 through 1306, he painted frescoes in the Arena Chapel in Padua for the patron Enrico Scrovegni. These frescoes made up thirty-nine story-telling scenes. Two of these scenes are The Story of Joachim and Anna and The Last Judgement. In these paintings, Dante Alighieri’s influence on Giotto can be seen. Giotto’s style makes the artwork seem to be three-dimensional. People are affect by how alive his paintings seem to be. Two of Giotto’s other most famous pieces are Ognissanti Madonna (circa 1307) and Madonna and Child (circa 1320). Historians argue about whether or not other frescoes were painted by Giotto, and many of his paintings have been lost to time.
Giotto and other great thinkers of the time influenced each other. Giotto influenced his works on other artists such as Giusto de’ Menabuoi and Jacopo. Giotto was mentioned in the epic poem The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. He was honored by being named the Chief Architect at the Florence Cathedral.
Giotto also made time for life outside of his artwork. Giotto was married twice. There is not that much known about his first wife, but his second wife had eight kids with him. The second wife's name was Donna Ciuta di Lapo. One of their sons, Francesco became a painter like his father. Giotto died January 8, 1337. Historians are unsure about where he was buried, but most believe his remains are either in Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cathedral of Florence, or in the Church of Santa Reparata. Despite his death over 500 years ago, Giotto has had a great influence on modern day art and is still considered one of the best Renaissance artists.