Trecento

The Trecento corresponds to the 14^th century, and is considered the beginning of the Italian Renaissance cultural movement.

One of the most important centres of art and architecture in this period is Florence, a political, economical and cultural pole of Italy.

This period precedes the Quattrocento, which occurs during the 15^th century.

The most important artist that represents this period are Giotto, in painting, and Donatello, in sculpture.

Italian painter, Giotto di Bondone (1266 – 1337) was one of the first artists to give the illusion of real life in a plan surface, bringing to painting the notions present in sculpture, such as light, shadow and volume.

One of the principal characteristics of his work is the identification of the figure of saints as common look human beings. These saints with human look where the most important points of the scenes he painted, occupying the principal position in the painting. This characteristic reveals a more humanistic vision of the world, which will be more and more reaffirmed during the Renaissance.

Giotto is considered the founder of modern painting, given he broke with the static conventionalism of his time.

In 1334 he became supervisor of the Cathedral of Florence, and the architect of this village.

Its paintings are still considered medieval.

Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (1386 – 1466), was an early Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence.

Donatello uses several materials, such as wood, bronze and marble, and his most evident characteristics are the movement, the naturalism and grace.

He develops the basso rilievo technique, introducing the geometric perspective. He pays special attention to the human body, which represents in every type of gestures, ages and attitudes.

He is also the first sculptor to release the figures from its obligatory contact with the wall of the cathedrals and palaces, and gives to the sculptures an independence never seen before.

Among its volumetric sculptures stands out David, St. George, and the portrait of Condottiere Gattamelata, the first equestrian portrait since the roman antiquity.