Piero della Francesca

Piero della Francesca was an Italian painter, mathematician, and geometer who lived during the Early Renaissance. He is best known today for his beautiful paintings, which are admired for their calm and peaceful style, as well as their use of shapes and perspective. One of his most famous works is a series of paintings called The History of the True Cross, which can still be seen in the Basilica of San Francesco in the Tuscan town of Arezzo. Besides his art, Piero della Francesca also made important contributions to mathematics and geometry, showing how these subjects could be connected to the world of painting. His work continues to inspire artists and thinkers even today.

Biography

Piero della Francesca was born Piero di Benedetto in the town of Borgo Santo Sepolcro, now in Tuscany. His father passed away before he was born, and he later became known as Piero della Francesca after his mother. Romana, his mother, supported his education in mathematics and art.

Piero began his career as a painter, working with local artists and later meeting famous masters in Florence. He returned to his hometown, where he painted important works such as the Madonna della Misericordia and the Baptism of Christ. He also created famous frescoes in Arezzo, including The History of the True Cross, which is considered one of his greatest achievements. In later years, Piero continued to paint and write about art, influencing many younger artists until his death in 1492.

Criticism and interpretation

In 2013, the Frick Collection in New York showed several paintings by Piero. Critic Jerry Saltz especially liked the Virgin and Child Enthroned With Four Angels. He said the painting shows Mary and the baby Jesus in a special place. Mary looks at a rose that Jesus reaches for, which stands for love and beauty.

Another reviewer, Walter Kaiser, said the best painting in the show was a picture of Saint Augustine from the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon.

Work in mathematics and geometry

Piero della Francesca loved studying math and shapes, which helped him create his amazing paintings. He wrote three important books about math: Trattato d'Abaco (Abacus Treatise), De quinque corporibus regularibus (On the Five Regular Solids), and De Prospectiva pingendi (On Perspective in painting). These books talked about numbers, shapes, and how to show things in paintings so they look real.

Piero also copied and illustrated many works by the ancient Greek math expert Archimedes, including books about circles, shapes, and measuring. His work inspired other famous thinkers like Luca Pacioli and even Leonardo da Vinci.

Inspirations

Bohuslav Martinů composed a three-movement piece for orchestra called Les Fresques de Piero della Francesca. He dedicated it to Rafael Kubelik, who first performed it with the Vienna Philharmonic at the 1956 Salzburg Festival.

Piero’s use of geometry and his special lighting in his paintings inspired many modern artists. These include Giorgio de Chirico, Massimo Campigli, Felice Casorati, and Balthus.

Selected works

Piero della Francesca created many famous paintings and frescoes. Some of his most important works include the Polyptych of the Misericordia, The Baptism of Christ, and The History of the True Cross. His art can be found in museums and churches across Italy and around the world, such as the National Gallery in London and the Musée du Louvre in Paris. These works show his skill in using geometry and perspective to create peaceful and balanced scenes.

Other notable pieces include The Flagellation of Christ, Resurrection, and the Diptych of the Count and Countess of Urbino, showing his talent for both religious stories and portraits. His paintings continue to be admired for their calm beauty and thoughtful use of shapes and space.