Giotto the Painter. Volume 1-3

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Vol. 1 explores Giotto as the first European artist whose life and work can be documented comprehensively. The sources present a complex picture: mid-fourteenth-century biographical accounts shaped by various ideological needs contrast with contemporary documents that depict Giotto more as a bourgeois businessman than a traditional artist. This volume emphasizes the latter aspect, examining the pre-modern artist's existence. Vol. 2 focuses on Giotto's works, contextualizing paintings secured through early written sources that help reconstruct his artistic evolution around 1300. Formed in the Florentine Dominican sphere, Giotto's artistic journey began in Rome, leading to a breakthrough during his time in Padua. His clients included prominent church figures and members of Italy's urban elite. The influence of his inventions on other painters, particularly in Siena, pushed him to explore new artistic directions later in his career. Vol. 3 addresses Giotto's legacy as a founder of modern painting, arguing that his impact extends beyond the mere study of nature. His art fostered the development of pictorial idioms that resonated with audiences, enabling the exploration and communication of complex psychological, narrative, and allegorical themes. This evolution not only transformed European art but also contributed to the intellectual growth of Western societies.