Painting of Siena

Here is a website I found about Duccio di Buoninsegna:
http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/bio/d/duccio/buoninse/biograph.html

Duccio was a greatest artist of Siena of Renaissance before Giotto. Duccio's artworks are full of the style of traditional Byzantine. His paintings are less-colored and plain, emphasizing the solemnity and sanctity of God, not the true emotions of humanity. The characters in Ducci's painting are not as lifelike as in Giotto's, but both of their paintings are religious. In Duccio's paintings, the Virgin Mary and Jesus look vague and dreamlike, making people feel a sense of mystery.
Duccio had some problems in his life. He encountered political offense, problems of debts, and accusation of refusing military service. He was considered as an important changer of art because he instilled a new feeling of humanity.

Crucifixion

by Duccio (1308 - 1311)

This painting is about Jesus Christ's heavy penalty of crucifixion. Jesus is crucified in the middle, resigned of the pain. He spread an atmosphere of holiness and dignity. A row of angels are flying above him, as if they're welcoming Him to the heaven. On Jesus' both sides are two crucified criminals. They look very dark and sinful, contrasting sharply between the golden background.

On the left of the painting are the disciples and the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary lifts up her eyes to her son, almost can't stand. The disciples stand around her and look at Jesus respectfully, frightened of what their teacher has suffered. They stand calmly, grieving for His critical injury and enormous pain. On the other side of Jesus stands the headsman and a crowd of people who inflict injury on Jesus. They are shouting and discussing agitatedly, look perturbed and afraid.

The harsh contrast between the two sides of the people make the image intense and full of movements. It causes a fervent feeling surging in the audience.

Giotto di Bondone

Here is a website I found about Giotto the famous artist in early Renaissance:
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/old-masters/giotto.htm

Giotto followed Cimabue as an apprentice when he was only 12 years old. Giotto did many frescos about the life of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Soon he became famous for the expressions of people's emotions in his paintings, and he even surpassed his teacher. Giotto became very famous and rich just when he was in his middle age, and he managed many workshops in Italy. Many influential and rich people commissioned him to paint for them. Giotto's most important deed was that he created a whole new way to paint lifelike people with their true feelings. He really has a subtle insight into human nature.

Giotto was so famous that he even had a biographer to record his life. He was very lucky that he could be so reputed just in his life because many artists became well-known after they had died. He lived a really good life. He was entirely devoted to art in his whole life, and few of us, modern people, couldhave done like him.

Here you can have a complete view of it :http://artchive.com/artchive/G/giotto/giotto.jpg.html

The Mourning of Christ

This is the detail part of The Mourning of Christ. It is a fresco made by Giotto at Cappella dell'Arena in Padua.
In the painting, The Virgin Mary leans to Jesus' dead body, holding his neck and looking at him grievedly. Many women are kneeling around Christ. One is holding Jesus' head in her palms, and some are holding his body tenderly. John the disciple stretches his hands, gazing at Jesus brokenheartedly, showing his feeling of despair for his death. And angels are flying above them.
This painting expresses the grief of Jesus' grave death and people's respect and love to Jesus Christ.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is the website:http://www.artsender.com/artists/Giotto_di_Bondone.htm

It contains many details of Giotto's life, and it also introduces many of Gitto's famous paintings. Giotto was a Florentine painter, sculptor, and architect. He was considered as the first genius of art in the Italian Renaissance. He was very different from other artists because he saved most of the money he earned and became a rich man. Furthermore, Giotto had very good relationship between some famous Popes.

Even though most of Giotto's works were about the stories in the Bible, he still painted the people very emotionally. They are like the real person, and people can get into the painting as if we're one of the audience.

Here is Joachim's Dream by Giotto di Bondone.

Joachim's Dream

This painting is very simple and obvious. In the painting, Joachim is sleeping in front of a small wooden house. The house is just like linking to the rock which Joachim is leaning against. An angel is flying toward him, and the two shepherds look at the coming angel curiously.

The sleeping Joachimgives me a sense of dignity. The angel is staring at Joachim earnestly. I like this painting very much. The people in the painting is realistic, and that was the greatest skill Giotto possessed.