Giotto

Giotto di Bondone, known simply as Giotto, was an Italian painter and architect from Florence during the Late Middle Ages. He lived from around 1267 until 1337 and worked during the Gothic and Proto-Renaissance periods. Many people thought he was one of the greatest painters of his time because he painted things in a way that looked very real, following nature instead of old styles.

Giotto’s most famous work is the decoration of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, also called the Arena Chapel. He finished this around 1305. The wall paintings, called frescoes, show the stories of the Life of the Virgin and the Life of Christ. Many experts consider this one of the greatest works of art from the early Renaissance.

We know for sure that Giotto painted the Arena Chapel and that in 1334 he was chosen to design the new bell tower for the Florence Cathedral. But many other details about his life, like when and where he was born or where he is buried, are still debated by historians today.

Early life and career

Tradition says that Giotto was born in a farmhouse, perhaps at Colle di Romagnano or Romignano. Some believe he was born in Florence, the son of a blacksmith named Bondone. Most authors accept that Giotto was his real name.

The artist Cimabue discovered Giotto drawing pictures of his sheep on a rock. The drawings were so lifelike that Cimabue asked Giotto to become his apprentice. Giotto showed great skill even as a young artist. There are stories of him painting a very realistic fly on a painting while Cimabue was away. When Cimabue returned, he tried to brush the fly off, thinking it was real.

When Pope Benedict XI asked to see a drawing from Giotto, Giotto drew a perfect red circle without using compasses. The messenger was surprised, but when he explained how Giotto made the circle, the Pope and his courtiers were amazed at Giotto’s skill.

Career

Giotto married Ricevuta di Lapo del Pela, known as Ciuta, and they had four daughters and four sons, one of whom, Francesco, also became a painter. Giotto worked in Rome from 1297 to 1300, though few of his works there remain today. By 1301, he owned a house in Florence and often returned there when not traveling. In the early 1300s, he received many painting jobs in Florence. One of his works is a small part of a fresco cycle at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran made for the Jubilee of 1300 called by Boniface VIII. He also designed the Navicella, a mosaic for the front of the Old St Peter's Basilica, and painted the Badia Polyptych, now displayed in the Uffizi in Florence.

There is some debate about whether Giotto painted the large frescoes of the Life of St. Francis in the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Some experts think he did, while others believe other artists were responsible. Giotto's fame grew, and he was invited to work in places like Padua and Rimini. In Padua, he created important paintings that helped shape the local art style. By 1301 and 1304, Giotto owned large pieces of land in Florence and likely led a big team of artists, receiving projects from all over Italy.

Scrovegni Chapel

Around 1305, Giotto created very important paintings inside the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. In 2021, these paintings were named a UNESCO World Heritage site along with other paintings from the same time in Padua. The chapel was built by Enrico degli Scrovegni for his family to use for worship, burials, and special yearly performances.

The paintings show the story of Salvation, with a special focus on the Virgin Mary. This is because the chapel is dedicated to the Annunciation, which tells how the angel Gabriel told Mary she would have a very special baby. The paintings include stories from the lives of Mary and Jesus. Giotto used ideas from old books like The Golden Legend and The Meditations on the Life of Christ as well as the Bible.

The paintings are arranged in 37 scenes around the walls. They show the lives of Mary’s parents, Mary’s early life, and many events from Jesus’ life and teachings. Giotto’s style was different from other artists of his time. His people look real, with natural faces and feelings. They wear clothes that hang naturally, and the scenes often give a sense of depth, like looking at a stage.

Mature works

Giotto worked on many wall paintings in Padua, though some have been lost. His style influenced many painters from northern Italy.

From 1306 to 1311, Giotto was in Assisi, where he painted important wall paintings in the Lower Church of the Basilica of St. Francis. These included scenes from the life of Christ and stories from a famous book. He also painted a portrait of the bishop who asked him to do the work.

In 1311, Giotto returned to Florence. Around this time, he likely designed a large mosaic for the old St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. He also designed an altarpiece that is still kept in the Vatican today. Some believe he worked in Rome for several years and received many requests for his art.

In Florence, Giotto painted a large altarpiece known as the Ognissanti Madonna, which is now shown in the Uffizi gallery. It was made for a church built by a religious group. Giotto also painted other important works around this time.

Peruzzi and Bardi Chapels at Santa Croce

Giotto painted special areas called chapels for families in the church of Santa Croce in Florence. These chapels show stories from the lives of saints.

The Peruzzi Chapel shows scenes from the lives of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. The paintings are quite old and not in great shape, but they still show Giotto's skill in making people look real and showing their feelings.

The Bardi Chapel shows the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Giotto chose seven important moments from the saint's life and arranged them in a special way in the chapel. This helps people see connections between different events in St. Francis's story.

Later works and death

In 1328, the altarpiece of the Baroncelli Chapel in Santa Croce, Florence was finished. It is now thought to be mostly made by Giotto’s helpers, including Taddeo Gaddi, who later painted the chapel. The next year, Giotto moved to Naples where King Robert of Anjou invited him to work. He stayed there with some students until 1333. Only a few of Giotto’s paintings from Naples remain, such as a piece showing the Lamentation of Christ in the church of Santa Chiara. In 1332, King Robert named Giotto the “first court painter” and gave him a yearly payment.

After Naples, Giotto visited Bologna, where he painted for a church. In 1334, he became the main architect for Florence Cathedral. He began designing the bell tower, called Giotto's Campanile, on July 18, 1334. After Giotto passed away three years later, others finished the tower. Giotto was also in Milan around this time but no paintings from there are known. His last known work was helping decorate a chapel in the Bargello in Florence.

Giotto was mentioned by many writers of his time, such as Boccaccio and Dante. Giotto died in January 1337.

Burial and legacy

Giotto was buried in either the Cathedral of Florence or the Church of Santa Reparata. These places are very close because the church is under the cathedral.

In the 1970s, workers found old bones near where Giotto might have been buried. Experts looked at the bones and thought they might be Giotto’s because they had chemicals from paint in them. The bones were from a short man, about four feet tall, which matches an old story that Giotto was a dwarf. Some people think these bones are Giotto’s, but others are not sure.