Brief Biography-Giotto de Bondone was born in the village of Vespignano, in the region of Florence in 1267. His father was a peasant farmer who let Giotto out to mind sheep as a young boy. The story has it that Giotto used to draw nature subjects on rocks with a sharp stone to pass the time. One day the renowned artist Cimabue observed his work whilst passing and enquired if he could take him to his studio for training. With the consent of Giotto’s father Bordone, Cimabue tutored him to the extent that he could not teach him any further, Giotto’s skills surpassed that of his master.
Cimabue was called to Assisi to work and Giotto remained behind doing works in the city, the first of many being the high altar of the Badia of Florence. After some time, Cimabue returned to Florence and Giotto went to Assisi, where it is known he frescoed thirty-two stories from the life and deeds of Saint Francis, with these works he was held in the highest esteem. He was summoned to Rome do a commission for Pope Boniface VIII in the Lateran Palace. When he returned to Florence, he set up permanent residence, got married and raised a large family of eight. He journeyed to Padua to paint in the private chapel of Enrico degli Scrovegni, it was his first secular commission, this work led to further acclaim. The poet Dante lavished praise on him, and he was declared as the creator of a new era in art.
He lived in Florence for the remainder of his life where he undertook many commissions. Pope Benedict XI in Rome wanted paintings for Saint Peter’s and sent a courtier to Giotto to ask for a sample of his work. Giotto drew a perfect circle on a sheet of paper without the aid of an instrument. When the courtier took the circle to the Pope with embarrassment and explained how it was drawn, the Pope was so impressed with Giotto’s sleight of hand, he engaged him over other artists. From this event, the proverb ‘you are rounder than Giotto’s O’ meaning dull of wit, was coined.
In 1328, he worked for King Robert Anjou in Naples, thus gaining an annual pension. In 1334, he was appointed Director of the Cathedral works in Florence, this was to be his last major work, he died after an excursion to Milan in 1337. He was given the prestigious honour of a burial in the Duomo in which there remains a grand memorial tomb. To this day, he is regarded as the forefather of renaissance art.