Born near Florence in 1452, the Renaissance Man and polymath died 500 years ago when retired in France. A summary of his great artistic achievements.
renaissance
His pupils, and the pupils of those artists, included Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Perugino, Ghirlandaio, and di Credi.
Over 550 years ago, a 14 year-old boy started his apprenticeship with the Florentine painter and sculptor Verrocchio. He was Leonardo da Vinci, and here are some of his master’s works.
Later painting of the Black Death and plague stressed the importance of divine intervention in limiting its spread.
In 1348, the Black Death killed about half the population of Florence, then the hotbed of the early Renaissance. That is the frame story for Boccaccio’s Decameron.
He is now almost forgotten, despite this being the 500th anniversary of his death. He was certainly an important influence on Raphael, and more.
The final few years of his life were highly productive. As well as superb religious works, some secular paintings have also survived.
When he returned to painting in 1504, he was quick to incorporate the latest developments such as sfumato, and enhanced his landscapes from real life.
Friend and colleague of Raphael, he was on a par with him, and Leonardo da Vinci. First part of a series marking the 500th anniversary of his death.
How northern landscape painting was taken to Italy, and started its long journey to acceptance, and eventually Impressionism.
