Beato Angelico was a central figure of the early Renaissance. A contemporary of Masaccio, he was deeply influenced by his lessons, not only in the conception of space, but also in the interpretation of the relationship between nature and faith. However, his interpretation of this relationship was less dramatic. For this reason, for a long time, his art was substantially underestimated and considered only to be the expression of a simple and devoted spirit.
Despite his tormented and isolated soul, Strozzi absorbed the styles, influences and lessons of the masters whose works could be found in Genoa, including Rubens and Carvaggio. Inspired by these influences, Strozzi created distinctive works which combined the lessons of the masters with his own talents and unique use of colours, as well as betraying much of his inner turmoil as he battled with the church, jealous rivals, financial woes and personal loss.
A Fugitive Genius Caravaggio tempestuous life stretched across two centuries the worn-out Renaissance of the 1500s and the rising Baroque of the 1600s. During his short life, and a career burnt out too quickly, the Lombard painter deeply shook the world of art with unforgettable masterpieces. He emerged from the slums and taverns, climbed the great staircases of cardinals palaces and soon reached the peak of his fame. It was a life of drama and adventure, incredible fame and desperate sadness.
Giotto's painting was the expression of a world evolving towards new horizons. A new confidence in mankind, the awareness of playing an active role in his own time, having a moral and material place in the world all these features, typical of the Italian Renaissance, can be traced in his work. Focused on emotions, people and lives, Giotto s frescos make a decisive break with the abstract and affected mysticism of Byzantine art and depict his own times, starting one of the most sensational revolutions in the history of art.
Michelangelo's dramatic power ruled the world art scene at the beginning of the 16th century. During almost 90 years of agony and ecstasy, he dug out of marble one hammer blow after the other the secret souls of restless figures. Primarily a sculptor, Michelangelo was also a painter, an architect and a poet; he was an unparalleled spokesman for the journey of Renaissance man, from praise to disillusionment.
Piero della Francesca's modern, innovative style proved popular among his 15th century contemporaries, but quickly fell out of fashion. It would be rediscovered some five centuries later, with a renewed appreciation of his distinctive, outstanding work. Little is known of his early life, but his short stay in Florence in his 20s left an indelible mark on della Francesco, influencing his work throughout his career.
The paintings of Raphael demonstrate the results of his valuable research into the past and his Renaissance counterparts twinned with a poignant sense of deeply human poetry. Heavily influenced by his early life in Urbino and the loss of his parents while still a child, Raphael started his career as a teenager. He moved to Perugia, where the influences of Umbria impacted on his work, and by 16 he was considered a Master . It was the beginning of a career which, while short, would impact on every aspect of the fundamental artistic culture in the transition between the 15th and 16th centuries.
Tintoretto and the Golden Age of Venice The design of Michelangelo and the color of Titian is, according to his biographer Carlo Ridolfi, what the young Tintoretto had written on the wall of his studio. True or not, this is an apt description of his painting; painting that engages in the Venetian tradition of colour and the strong design of the Tuscan style. A tireless and uncompromising artist, he never left Venice. Many buildings and churches across the lagoon shine with the light of his paintings, and his works can now be seen in the major museums of the world.
In the work of Van Dyck, perhaps the greatest portraitist of European art history, the lesson of Italian painting is seen often. Born in the last years of the 16th century in Antwerp, the overwhelming influences of Italy and outstanding ability for portrait painting dominated the life of the Great Master.
