MasaccioMasaccio(1401-1427),thefirstgreatpainteroftheItalianRenaissance,whoseinnovationsintheuseofscientificperspectiveinauguratedthemodernerainpainting
Masaccio,originallynamedTommasoCassai,wasborninSanGiovanniValdarno,nearFlorence,onDecember21,1401
HejoinedthepaintersguildinFlorencein1422
Hisremarkablyindividualstyleowedlittletootherpainters,exceptpossiblythegreat14th-centurymasterGiotto
HewasmorestronglyinfluencedbythearchitectBrunelleschiandthesculptorDonatello,bothofwhomwerehiscontemporariesinFlorence
FromBrunelleschiheacquiredaknowledgeofmathematicalproportionthatwascrucialtohisrevivaloftheprinciplesofscientificperspective
FromDonatelloheimbibedaknowledgeofclassicalartthatledhimawayfromtheprevailingGothicstyle
Heinauguratedanewnaturalisticapproachtopaintingthatwasconcernedlesswithdet