Brief Biography-Giovanni Cimabue was born into a noble family in Florence when the arts were virtually non-existent due to wars and natural disasters. Nevertheless, his father observed his sharp wit and placed him in a literary school. He filled his time there, drawing freely and ignoring his studies. At this time, the governor of Florence contracted Greek artists to restore decaying frescos; Cimabue spent his days scrutinising their work. Finally, his father conceded it would be best to enrol him as a disciple with them. He quickly surpassed the performance of his masters, and on discovering his work, Florence held him in high esteem.
The people carried one of his paintings in possession to the church of the Virgin Mary, attended by musicians amidst pomp and ceremony. Vasari stated that King Charles of Anjou viewed it as he painted this panel when passing through Florence. On hearing this, the people of Florence ran to see it in the most massive crowd in the world and with the greatest joy. The following merriment caused the neighbours to name the area Borgo Allegri Merry Quarter. However, recent utterances state its name is because of the notorious nightlife therein.
His works were all done in distemper as painters did not use oil. He was so devoted to supremacy in his paintings that if there were any imperfections, he would promptly deface and abandon them. As a result, there is uncertainty about attributions to many works. The picture of Saint John in Pisa is the only one with assured conviction.
Vasari attributed most of the wall paintings in the church of Saint Francis at Assisi to Cimabue; however, he attests to the hand of some Greek masters in these frescoes. Scholars have hailed him as the Father of Modern Painting, but some laud him as the last of the Byzantine School. Some declared attributions should belong to the Sienese painter Duccio.
Cimabue discovered the young Giotto drawing nature subjects on rocks and became his master. Giotto’s skills surpassed that of his master, the poet Dante lavished praise on Giotto, and he declared him the creator of a new era in art. Either way, Scholars can credit Cimabue with initiating the New Age of Painting.
He died in 1302 while working on a mosaic in the Duomo of Pisa. His remains rest in the Santa Maria del Fiore Church in Florence.