Domenico Veneziano facts for kids
Domenico Veneziano (born around 1410 – died May 15, 1461) was an Italian painter. He was an important artist during the early Renaissance period. He mostly worked in the cities of Perugia and Tuscany.
Not much is known about where Domenico was born. People believe he was born in Venice, which is why his last name is "Veneziano." When he was a boy, around 1422 or 1423, he moved to Florence. There, he became a student of a famous painter named Gentile da Fabriano. He also worked with another artist, Pisanello, in Rome from about 1423 to 1430. His painting style was inspired by the artist Benozzo Gozzoli.
In 1438, Domenico wrote a letter from Perugia to Piero di Cosimo de' Medici. He mentioned his long connection with the powerful Medici family. He asked if he could paint a special altarpiece for them. Domenico was a contemporary of other famous painters like Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi. These artists admired the frescoes painted by Buonfigli in Perugia.
Between 1439 and 1441, Domenico painted a masterpiece called Adoration of the Magi. This was a round painting, probably made for the wealthy Medici family's palace. Today, you can see it in Berlin.
Another one of his most important works is the Santa Lucia de' Magnoli Altarpiece. He painted this between 1445 and 1447. It was originally in a church in Florence. Now, it is kept in the Uffizi Gallery. This altarpiece uses very unusual colors for that time. Because of this, an art historian named Vasari thought it was painted with oil paints. Domenico's work also influenced the artist Andrea Mantegna.
Other important paintings by Domenico include the Madonna del Roseto. This painting is in the National Museum of Art of Romania. Another is the Madonna Berenson, which is in the Villa I Tatti in Florence. Both of these works were painted around 1432 to 1437.
Domenico worked on the decorations for the Portinari chapel. This chapel was part of the hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence. He worked there from 1439 to 1445. During this time, he had two famous artists helping him: Piero della Francesca and Bicci di Lorenzo. Records from the hospital show that he used linseed oil for his paintings. Domenico spent his later years in Florence, where he passed away on May 15, 1461.
Understanding the Predella
The predella is the lower part of an altarpiece. It often has smaller paintings or carvings. These usually show scenes from the lives of saints or other stories. Domenico Veneziano's Santa Lucia de' Magnoli Altarpiece had a predella with several panels.
Scenes from the Predella
The predella for the Santa Lucia de' Magnoli Altarpiece showed scenes of the saints from the main painting. It also had a larger painting in the middle called the Annunciation.
- The Stigmata of St. Francis and John Baptist in the Desert are now in the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
- The Annunciation and The Miracle of St. Zenobius are in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
- The Martyrdom of St. Lucy is in the Berlin State Museums.
Images for kids
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The Stigmata of St. Francis
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Annunciation
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The Martyrdom of St. Lucy
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See also
In Spanish: Domenico Veneziano para niños
