Maso di Banco facts for kids
Maso di Banco was an Italian painter who lived and worked in Florence, Italy, around the years 1335 to 1350. He was one of the most important students of the famous artist Giotto di Bondone. Maso, like Giotto, was very good at making his paintings look real and deep, almost like you could step into them.
We know about Maso's work from a book called I Commentari. This book was written by another artist, Lorenzo Ghiberti. In his book, Ghiberti said that Maso's main work was a set of wall paintings in a special chapel. This chapel is inside the Santa Croce church in Florence.
Contents
Maso di Banco's Famous Wall Paintings
The wall paintings in the Santa Croce church were likely made around 1340. They do not have a signature or a date. These amazing paintings show different stories.
Stories from Saint Sylvester's Life
One part of the wall paintings tells stories from the Life of St. Sylvester. Pope Sylvester I was an important religious leader. Maso's paintings show key moments from his life.
The Last Judgment and The Entombment
Other parts of the wall paintings show scenes like The Last Judgment and The Entombment. These are important religious stories that Maso brought to life with his art.
The Bardi Chapel Painting
Maso also painted a special wall painting in the Bardi family chapel. The Bardi family was a very rich banking family in Florence. This painting shows a scene where a man named Gualtiero de' Bardi is asking Jesus Christ for help with his soul. This kind of painting is sometimes called a "particular judgment."
Other Important Artworks by Maso di Banco
Maso di Banco created several other beautiful artworks that can be seen in museums today.
- Triptych: This is a painting made of three panels. You can see it at the Detroit Institute of Art in the United States.
- Portable Altarpiece: This artwork shows the Madonna and Christ Child with Saints. It also has scenes from the Life of Christ. It is kept at the Brooklyn Museum.
- The Coronation of the Virgin: This is a panel painting. It shows the Virgin Mary being crowned. You can find it at the Budapest Museum of Fine Art in Hungary.
It's important to know that Nanni di Banco, who was a sculptor in the early 1400s, was not related to Maso di Banco. They just had similar last names!
