How Did Giotto Influence The Renaissance

Before Giotto, painting closely resembled the schematic and archaic Byzantine style. The figures were often stiff, two-dimensional, and did not evoke emotion from the viewer. Giotto’s style diverged greatly from the tenants of the Byzantine era and influenced generations of artists who followed him. His approach brought a level of humanism, vitality, and emotion to the subjects of his painting and would greatly influence the Renaissance era. In straying from the Byzantine style, Giotto's techniques evoked great emotion in both his subjects and from his audience. This level of interaction and emotional connection would become trademarks of the Renaissance.

Many consider Giotto to be the father of the Renaissance because of the innovative new

Giotto's frescos can be found in the chapels of the Bardi and Peruzzi families, in the church of Sta. Croce, in Florence. They were completed in the 1320s. Both frescos are examples of his realistic portrayal of human figures. The scenes in the frescos not only captured the emotions of the subjects, but also evoked an emotional reaction from the audience. Another work of Giotto's is the altarpiece of the Madonna Enthroned. It was originally housed in the church of Ognissanti in Florence and can now be found in the Uffizi Gallery, also in Florence. In this piece, Giotto's use of foreshortening and shadowing capture cures in lines that were not previously seen. This new technique was adopted by artists that followed Giotto. The piece is also unique because the subjects of the painting can be seen interacting with one another. This depiction of emotion and interaction is a trademark of the Renaissance. Another work is the mosaic Navicella (ca. 1300), for St. Peter's in Rome, which has now been largely destroyed. In the painting, vivid emotion can be seen on the faces of many of the subjects. The focus on capturing realistic human emotion was a major artistic shift that defined the

Michelangelo, like Giotto, demonstrates an understanding of perception and an innate sense of perspective, which allowed him to create foreshortened paintings. Similar to Giotto, Masaccio’s characters are realistic, full, and vibrant. The emotions of the figures are portrayed through facial expressions and gestures, and the painting expresses a strong sense of naturalism. In Masaccio’s, The Tribute Money, Masaccio ensnares the viewer into the story. In this work, he tells the story of a Roman tax collector who demands tax money from Christ and the twelve apostles who don't have the money to pay (khanacademy.org). Both artists draw the viewer into the action of the painting and cause the audience to emotionally relate to the subjects in the