Artist Introduction: 1325-1370
Italian
Giottino Gallery
was an early Italian painter from Florence. His real name was Maso di Stefano or Tommaso di Stefano.
Giottino's father was himself a celebrated painter; his naturalism earned him the appellation "Scimia della Natura" (Ape of Nature). He instructed his son, who applied himself with greater predilection to studying the works of the great Giotto. Since he formed his style on Giotto's works, Maso became known as Giottino.
The frescoes in the chapel of San Silvestro in the Florentine Basilica of Santa Croce are attributed to Giottino; these represent the miracles of Pope St Sylvester as narrated in the "Golden Legend".
A large number of other works have been attributed to Giottino including Apparition of the Virgin to St Bernard and a marble statue erected on the Florentine campanile.