Fine Art Fridays #4- Giotto

Giotto di Bondone was born near Florence in approximately 1266. He began his early life as a shepherd though ended his life as a celebrated and rich artist. Not many artists in his day could boast being able to support a wife and eight children through their artistic endeavors alone, but he could. The works of Giotto are an important road marker in the history of art because in them we see the breaking of traditions long held in painting style thereby creating an open door to the Renaissance. Indeed, Giotto is known as the "Father of European painting." The style of the day called for stiff, emotionless figures. Giotto's figure were caught in candid poses, full of joy or sadness, much like a photojournalists captures images of peoples all over the world in celebration, everyday life, or in the grips of war. He was even an architect though he is best known for his frescoes, a painting process where color is applied to wet plaster and in the drying process bonds with the plaster creating a permanent, vibrant, and very durable piece of art. In fact, Giotto's frescoes can still be seen today over 700 years later. He is best known for his fresco The Nativity in Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Northern Italy. His frescoes even helped inspire Diego Rivera, the famous Mexican muralist who also chose fresco as his medium.

Together with this post, this cloze activity and coloring page can make a whole lesson on Giotto.
Just click on the images to enlarge and then you can print them out. Be sure to check print preview to make sure your print comes out right. I had to set mine at 50 percent to get each of the whole images on one page.


Tomorrow I will add a plaster painting project for you to try at home.







To learn more about Giotto you can visit these links or check out these recommended books.

Giotto Biography on Wikipedia

Another Giotto Biography

More of Giotto's Artwork

A Virtual Tour through Scrovegni Chapel

Books to Read on Giotto