Late Medieval Italy Artists in Italy were laying the groundwork for the Renaissance, with a renewed interest in Greco- Roman naturalism . During the 13th century, diverse style that combined Gothic, Byzantine, and Classical traditions.

13th Century Sculpture These two pulpits were carved by Nicola Pisano (1260) and Giovanni Pisano (1301) both are depictions of the Annunciation and Nativity, but represent two different traditions. One is in the Classical tradition and the other shows Gothic influences.

Byzantine style dominated painting throughout the Middle Ages Byzantine style dominated painting throughout the Middle Ages. Bonaventura Berlinghieri was a leading painter in this maniera greca (Greek style). His most famous work is the Saint Francis Altarpiece, created using tempera (egg based medium). The piece was created shortly after the saint’s death. The frontal poses, extreme flatness, and stiff formal figures reveal the Byzantine roots.

Cimabue was one of the first artists to break from the Italo- Byzantine style in pursuit of a new naturalism. The gold background and organized composition show Byzantine roots. However, the highlights on the drapery, perspective on the throne, and more relaxed posing foreshadow the Renaissance.

The Bubonic Plague The Bubonic Plague, or Black Death, was the most devastating natural disaster in European history. In Italy, where populations were very dense, as many as 50%-60% of the population perished.

Humanism Italian Humanists were concerned with human values and interests as distinct from- but not oppose to- religion’s values. Humanists held ancient classical society in the highest regard. They believed that humans should not be governed by authoritative dogma but by reason.

Giotto di Bondone is considered to be the first Renaissance painter due to his pioneering a naturalistic approach based on observation of the real world. This Madonna is a figure with substance, dimensionality, and bulk, qualities suppressed in favor of spiritual immateriality found in Byzantine art.

Giotto’s Arena Chapel presents one of the most impressive and complete Christian pictorial cycles. Painters before Giotto rarely attempted this bold combination of naturalistic representation, compositional complexity, and emotional resonance.

The greatest master of the Sienese tradition was Duccio di Buoninsegna The greatest master of the Sienese tradition was Duccio di Buoninsegna. His Maesta shows many maniera greca characteristics, such as the rigid formal symmetry of the composition and the facial types. The figures are more relaxed and softer, with individual facial features. The folds of the garments hang loosely, a distinctly French Gothic characteristic, indicating an artistic dialog between Italy and Northern Europe.

Duccio’s Maesta contained numerous narrative panels of the life of Jesus. These panels show further humanization of religious subject matter.

The Palazzo Publico in Sienna was a secular building and contains one of the first Western art landscapes since antiquity.

Economic growth, and the rise of wealthy merchants, led to many large building projects and commissions. The Florentine Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore, was created to express city pride. This massive basilica could hold 30,000 people.

The Florence Duomo boasts this masterful bronze relief door set, which show the life of St. John the Baptist.