When was Cimabue born and where did he die?
Giovanni Cimabue was born in Florence around 1240 and died there in 1302. He began his career painting within the strict rules of Italo-Byzantine art before evolving his style.
Questions about Cimabue
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the earliest known departure from tradition by Cimabue?
Art historians identify a Crucifixion painted for San Domenico church in Arezzo as his earliest known departure from these traditions. This work dates to approximately 1270 and shows Christ bent forward with clothes featuring golden striations.
How did Giorgio Vasari describe the relationship between Cimabue and Giotto?
Giorgio Vasari wrote that Cimabue discovered a ten-year-old boy named Giotto drawing sheep on a stone near Vespignano. The year was roughly 1277 when this encounter supposedly took place and the child accepted an invitation to stay with the master after receiving permission from his father.
Where can one find frescoes created by Cimabue in Assisi?
Cimabue received commissions to decorate the Basilica of San Francesco during the reign of Pope Nicholas IV. He created a fresco titled Madonna with Child Enthroned in the transept of the Lower Basilica around 1280 and later decorated the apse and transept of the Upper Basilica with scenes from the Gospels.
Why does the name Cimabue translate to bull-head in Italian?
Vasari quoted a contemporary describing Cimabue as nobler than anyone knew yet extremely proud who would destroy any work containing mistakes immediately. This behavior earned him the nickname Cimabue which translates to bull-head in Italian or may mean one who crushes the views of others based on the verb cimare.
What record did The Mocking of Christ set for medieval painting sales?
On the 27th of October 2019 The Mocking of Christ sold for €24 million at auction. This price set a new world record for medieval painting sales according to the auctioneers and the artwork is now housed in the Louvre alongside other major works by the master.