Professional Documents
Culture Documents
K.J. Benoy
His Life
His real name, Tomasso Cassai, comes from the name of the saint(Thomas) whose feast day he was baptized on and his familys being from a long line of carpenters (from casse chest an object carpenters made). His own father was actually a notary. Beginning in 1422, he was trained in an artists guild in Florence and thereafter he worked in Tuscany and Rome. In 1428 he died in Rome, at the young age of 27.
Paintings of Substance
Masaccio revolutionized the art of painting by the time he was in his mid twenties. Many regard him as the first great painter of the Renaissance (if Giotto is not considered(. He was a contemporary of both Brunelleschi and Donatello.
Paintings of Substance
Masaccios works display two dramatically new characteristics.
His people have volume. He was aware of the anatomy beneath their clothing. He was conscious of light sources and played with shading to give greater three dimensionality to his work.
Paintings of Substance
The form of his images are created through the subtle use of light and shadow, rather than by using line as is the case with Botticellis work. He also employed mathematical perspective as described by Brunelleschi.
Trinity
This painting was the first major work of the Renaissance to employ mathematical perspective.
Brancacci Chapel
The original crossvaulted chapel was lit by a tall, narrow window. Masaccio used this light source and accentuated it by shading his frescoes in concert with the window.
Despite its Medieval story telling method, with three scenes in one image, this painting could never be mistaken for a Medieval work.
An Early Death
Masaccios career was cut short in 1428, when he died in Rome. Artists often improve with age, maturity and wisdom. One can only imagine what an artist of this gifts might have become.
Finis