The Adoration of the Magi

Giotto di Bondone, commonly known as Giotto, was an Italian painter and architect born in 1267 in Colle di Vespignano, a village in the Mugello valley near Florence. He emerged from a family of small landowners, with his father being Bondone. Giotto's early life is shrouded in legend, including tales of his extraordinary talent being discovered by the renowned painter Cimabue, under whom he supposedly apprenticed. Among the most famous anecdotes is Giotto's ability to draw a perfect circle freehand, known as the 'O' of Giotto, and his realistic depiction of a fly that fooled Cimabue into attempting to swat it away. Giotto married Ciuta di Lapo del Pela around 1287, and the couple had eight children, including Francesco, who followed in his father's footsteps as a painter. Giotto's work marked a significant departure from the Byzantine style prevalent at the time, introducing more naturalistic representations of human figures and emotions, which laid the groundwork for the Renaissance. His contributions to art and architecture were vast, influencing generations of artists. Giotto passed away in Florence on January 8, 1337, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of the Italian Renaissance.