1. Giotto di Bondone (c.1267-1337) “Father of Renaissance Painting”

2. The Madonna in Majesty (Maestà), Cimabue, 1285-86 Tempera on panel, 385 x 223 cm Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence Young Giotto apprenticed in the workshop of Cimabue, the great Florentine painter of the time. When Giotto’s skill surpassed that of his master, Cimabue helped his star pupil set up his own workshop.

3. Christ the Pantocrator Cathedral of Monreale, c. 1190 Artist not known Byzantine artists did not attempt to imitate reality. Their scenes lacked depth. There is no definite light source. Their goal was to teach the Christian faith.

4. Note how Cimabue’s Madonna Maestà differs from the one painted by Giotto about 25 years later.

5. Legend of St Francis: St Francis Giving his Mantle to a Poor Man, 1297-99 Fresco, 270 x 230 cm Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi Giotto had probably already been to Assisi while apprenticed to Cimabue. Some time around 1290, he returned to paint the life story of St. Francis.

6. Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: Visitation, 1306 Fresco, 150 x 140 cm Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua The fresco cycle in the Arena Chapel at Padua is considered to be Giotto’s greatest work. It was commissioned by the richest citizen of Padua and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

7. Scenes from the Life of Christ: Nativity: Birth of Jesus, 1304-06, Fresco, 200 x 185 cm Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

8. No. 29 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 13. Last Supper, 1304-06, Fresco, 200 x 185 cm, Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

9. Scenes from the Life of Christ: Lamentation (The Mourning of Christ), 1304-06, Fresco, 200 x 185 cm, Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

10. Scenes from the Life of Christ: Lamentation (The Mourning of Christ), detail, 1304-06, Fresco, 200 x 185 cm, Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

11. Scenes from the Life of Christ: Resurrection (Noli me tangere), 1304-06, Fresco, 200 x 185 cm, Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

12. Last Judgment (detail), 1306, Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua Giotto included a portrait of Scrovengni in his fresco of the Last Judgment. He is shown offering the church that he has commissioned to three Marys.

13. Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis: Death and Ascension of St Francis (detail), c. 1325, Fresco Bardi Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence

14. Campanile de Giotto, Florence In 1334, Giotto, as the greatest living artist, was appointed architect to the cathedral in Florence. In the last three years of his life, he planned and began building the bell tower (campanile). It was not finished until after his death, in 1357.