Medieval art in Italy

Giotto – Realistic, emotional, Proto-Renaissance style (c. 1305, Padua)

Who painted the Lamentation in the Scrovegni Chapel?

Refined, Gothic, courtly elegance – Annunciation, Uffizi

What style is Simone Martini known for?

Elegant, gold, Byzantine influence – Maestà, Siena Cathedral

What distinguishes Duccio's style?

Nicola Pisano – Classical Roman revival in relief sculpture (1260)

Who sculpted the Pisa Baptistery pulpit?

Dome fresco of Paradise – Baptistery, Padua Cathedral

What is Giusto de' Menabuoi’s most famous work?

Buon fresco – durable and integral to wall surface

What technique uses pigment on wet plaster?

Paint made with pigment and egg yolk – used on wooden panels

What is tempera?

A smooth white coating applied to wood to prepare for painting

What is gesso?

Incised gold leaf decoration, often on halos or backgrounds

What is gold tooling?

Painting applied on dry plaster – used for finishing touches

What is a secco?

Preliminary red chalk or pigment drawings beneath a fresco

What is sinopia?

The four Evangelists – lion (Mark), eagle (John), ox (Luke), man (Matthew)

What does the tetramorph represent?

Faith, Hope, Charity, Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance

Name the 7 virtues

Keys, upside-down cross – First pope

St. Peter

Sword and book – Apostle and martyr

St. Paul

Armor and dragon – Warrior saint

St. George

Eyes on plate – Patron of sight

St. Lucy

Stigmata, brown habit – Founder of the Franciscan order

St. Francis

Wheel and sword – Scholar and martyr

St. Catherine

Monstrance or book – Follower of St. Francis

St. Clare

Black habit, raven, rule book – Founder of Western monasticism

St. Benedict

Stones – First Christian martyr

St. Stephen

Arrows – Martyr tied to a post or tree

St. Sebastian

Gridiron – Martyr burned alive

St. Lawrence

Touching Christ’s wounds – Doubting Thomas

St. Thomas

Mark (lion), Matthew (man), Luke (ox), John (eagle)

Evangelists

Angel Gabriel, Mary, lily, enclosed space, dove of Holy Spirit

How to recognize the Annunciation?

Christ on the cross, Mary and John beside, angels above

How to recognize the Crucifixion?

Virgin reclining or seated, Christ Child, ox and donkey, shepherds or Magi

How to recognize the Nativity?

Post-crucifixion mourning scene with Mary holding Christ’s body

What is the Lamentation?

Christ in majesty, saved on right, damned on left, angels with instruments of Passion

What is the Last Judgment?

A symbolic narrative (e.g., Good Government, Virtues and Vices)

What is an allegory in medieval art?

Lords of Padua, major patrons of fresco cycles (Altichiero, Guariento)

Who were the Carrara family?

Religious order based in Assisi, emphasized humility and poverty, patrons of Giotto and Lorenzetti

Who were the Franciscans?

Giotto

Lamentation (Padua), Betrayal of Christ, St. Francis cycle (Assisi), Ognissanti Madonna (Florence)

Maestà, Raising of Lazarus, Entry into Jerusalem (Siena)

Duccio

Cimabue

Santa Croce Crucifix, Maestà of Santa Trinità, Assisi frescoes

Altichiero

Crucifixion (Oratory of St. George), St. George and the Princess

Allegory of Good Government, Presentation in the Temple

Ambrogio Lorenzetti

Pietro Lorenzetti

Birth of the Virgin, Deposition

Arnolfo di Cambio

Tomb of Cardinal de Braye, Florence Cathedral plan, ciborium in Rome

Simone Martini

Annunciation, Maestà of Palazzo Pubblico, St. Louis of Toulouse

Guariento

Coronation of the Virgin, frescoes in Padua for the Carrara family

Giusto de' Menabuoi

Paradise Dome (Padua Baptistery), narrative frescoes in Padua Cathedral

Nicola Pisano

Pisa Baptistery Pulpit, Siena Pulpit – classical Roman revival

Giovanni Pisano

Sant’Andrea Pulpit, Siena Cathedral façade sculptures

Lamentation

Giotto – Scrovegni Chapel, Padua (c. 1305)

Maestà

Duccio – Siena Cathedral, iconic Sienese altarpiece

Annunciation

Simone Martini – Uffizi, refined Gothic courtly style

Good Government Fresco

Ambrogio Lorenzetti – Palazzo Pubblico, Siena

Crucifix

Cimabue – Santa Croce, Florence, early emotional realism

Pulpit, Pisa Baptistery

Nicola Pisano – Narrative sculpture, classical form

Pulpit, Sant’Andrea Pistoia

Giovanni Pisano – More dynamic, Gothic sculpture

St. George

Altichiero – Oratory of St. George, Padua

Paradise Dome Fresco

Giusto de’ Menabuoi – Padua Baptistery

Coronation of the Virgin

Guariento – Padua, Carrara Chapel