Giotto

Giotto a pre-renaissance artist and architect, was born 20 miles North of Florence Italy in the valley of the Mugello. It was described by his admirer John Ruskin as, a Lonely landscape. There were rugged mountains, rough ground and olive trees. There were no gardens or lush landscape's for Giotto to use as a reference for his art work. Giotto was supposedly born around the year 1267. This is not factual but a written chronicle said that he died in 1337 at the age of about 70. Even Giotto's birthplace is up for questioning, supposedly he also grew up in Vespignano. I would just conclude he was born in Italy.

Giotto was the son of a farmer. So naturally Giotto grew up like any boy from the country doing chores and working hard. But one day while doing his chores one of the famous painters of the day, Cimabue spotted him. Giotto was spotted drawing the sheep of the fields, and to his surprise they were ridiculously realistic to the actual sheep themselves. So from then on Giotto's door to the world of art was unlocked.

A 16th century biographer of artists Giorgio Vasari described Giotto as being a quick minded boy. So not surprising, Cimabue asked Giotto to join him on his trip and stay with him. Cimabue got permi

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Giotto worked on some decorative motifs that are pretty fascinating. Giotto used his negative space in his pictures wisely also. And finally my favorite number eleven, Envy. This one is kind of boring compared to the rest. Some people argue that this is not by Giotto but his name is on the picture and it does look like his work. When he turned back to his painting there was a fly on the nose of the portrait and Cimabue was trying to brush it off. It shows people in the nude being mauled and hung by their genitals and or hair. Giotto died by the time the whole building was complete and his plans were modified by a different architect. "It portrays a figure sated on a splendid Gothic throne bearing, in each hand, one of the dishes of a balance; the right-hand of crowning a wise man while te one on the left contains a second angel strike a malefactor.

Giotto took part in the restoration of Florence, he designed a crucifix nearly 19 feet high. The third is boring too, but the forth is justice and very appealing. "But beneath the apparent repetitiveness there is, in fact, astonishing variety. This was a change from the usual god like and perfect human forms that the Greeks an Romans did.

Approximate Word count = 1846
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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