GiottodiBondoneGiottodiBondone(1267-1337)
Florentinepainterandarchitect
Outstandingasapainter,sculptor,andarchitect,GiottowasrecognizedasthefirstgeniusofartintheItalianRenaissance
Giottolivedandworkedatatimewhenpeople'smindsandtalentswerefirstbeingfreedfromtheshacklesofmedievalrestraint
Hedealtlargelyinthetraditionalreligioussubjects,buthegavethesesubjectsanearthly,full-bloodedlifeandforce
Theartist'sfullnamewasGiottodiBondone
Hewasbornabout1266inthevillageofVespignano,nearFlorence
Hisfatherwasasmalllandedfarmer
GiorgioVasari,oneofGiotto'sfirstbiographers,tellshowCimabue,awell-knownFlorentinepainter,discoveredGiotto'stalents
Cimabuesupposedlysawthe12-year-oldboysketchingoneofhisfather'ssheeponaflatrockandwassoimpressedwithhistalentthathepersuadedthefathertoletGiott