giotto

Giotto broke away from the constraints of medieval painting, introducing natural light, volumetric figures, and a sense of lived reality into Christian subjects. Instead of flatness and rigidity, his characters acquired corporeal presence and individuality, while space gained depth and a convincing three-dimensional form. His greatest masterpiece is the fresco cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, which includes The Kiss of Judas and The Lamentation (The Mourning of Christ). In these works, Giotto abandoned the golden backgrounds typical of Byzantine art, added elements of landscape and natural settings, and transformed his figures into real human beings with authentic feelings and emotions. These innovations marked the birth of realistic painting and had a profound influence on later Renaissance masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Masaccio, and Sandro Botticelli. Other celebrated works by the artist include the frescoes of the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi and the altarpiece Ognissanti Madonna. Giotto’s masterpieces can still be admired in churches across Italy, as well as in the collections of major museums such as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Louvre in Paris. He was also the architect of the bell tower of Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. In our online gallery, you can explore high-quality digital reproductions of this great master’s works. Select your favorite and bring into your home a touch of the origins of the Italian Renaissance.