Life as a Venetian: Art in the Ufizzi

I started off with the Maestas of Cimabue, below, Duccio and Giotto. The title of Majesties is given to depictions of the Enthroned madonna with Child surrounded by Angels and Saints. The technique is of tempura on wood with gold leaf background. Comparing the works you can see the change in style that occurred in Italian painting at the end of the 13th Century.

Cimabue is still depending on the Greek-Byzantine style.

A more natural representation of the same subject can be seen in the work by Duccio.

But it's with Giotto that a new style can be noted, his bodies are positioned in a three dimensional space with bodies being able to express their emotions through their facial expressions and gestures. For the first time you can see the body of the Madonna under her clothes. look back at the others majesties to see the difference.

Mantegna

Simone Martini - Annunciation - painted for the cathedral in Siena. He painted his madonna's with an "S" shape, very delicate and beautiful.

Extract from Lorenzetti Four Stories from the Life of Saint Nicholas. I loved this scene.

Fillipi Lippi Madonna and Child with Two Angels. One of my all time favourite paintings. I bought a new print of this to replace the one that has faded.

Lippi painted such beautiful figures with delicate hair entwined with pearls.