Ambrogio Lorenzetti: biography, creativity, contribution to culture

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Ambrogio Lorecetti is one of the greatest artists in world culture. He lived and created his works in Italian Siena in the 14th century. But even today, his work has not yet been fully studied.

Artist biography

The exact date of birth of Ambrogio Lorenzetti is unknown. Researchers are inclined to believe that this happened between 1295 and 1305. His older brother Pietro was also a famous painter.

Already in 1320, the young Ambrogio was admitted to the Florentine guild of artists. Contemporaries described him as an educated, versatile person with many talents. In addition to painting, he was also engaged in literary creativity. And enjoyed great success.

The life and work of Ambrogio are closely connected with the Italian city of Siena. It was for local cathedrals that he painted his best frescoes. It is also known that in 1321 the artist visited Florence. There is written evidence of this. True, these documents are IOUs.

In 1330, Ambrogio, although not quite officially, becomes the main artistSienese government. Both Lorenzetti brothers died of the plague in 1348. Then this disease destroyed many inhabitants of Siena and the rest of Italy.

Influence on creativity

Since Ambrogio Lorenzetti was one of the most educated people of his time, he could not pass by ancient art. Sculptures and frescoes from Greece and Rome made a huge impression on him and greatly influenced his work.

Another strong impression on the young artist was made by the Italian painter Giotto. Imitating him, Ambrogio began to pay considerable attention to the image of perspective. It was very bold, because in those days the artists were just beginning to think about the organization of the space of the picture.

Lorenzetti's perspective is more simplified than modern. But he significantly overtook the artists of his century in depicting the volume and depth of space. In addition, the figures of people in the paintings are depicted in natural poses and filled with drama.

Innovation in art

The desire for innovation and realism is evident already in the first signed and dated painting by Ambrogio Lorenzetti "Madonna and Child" in 1319. In the majestic pose of the Mother of God, one can feel the artist's passion for Byzantine iconography. But the volume and monumentality of the figure looks quite modern.

In this early work, the potential of the artist has not yet been revealed. In the future, he filled his work with bright psychologism.

The famous Sienese painter is far ahead ofhis time, not only thanks to advances in perspective. His works were so innovative that customers often asked to remake everything in accordance with the canons more familiar to them.

One example of such a bold approach to depicting religious subjects is Ambrogio Lorenzetti's Madonna the Mammary, painted between 1325 and 1348. On it, the Virgin and Child are depicted in a secular manner: very lively and expressive. The viewer can imagine the character of each character: a he althy playful child and an affectionate mother, more like a simple Italian.

Smart Governance

In addition to religious subjects, the Italian master also paid attention to social ones. "Allegory of Good Government" by Ambrogio Lorenzetti is the most famous and significant work of the artist. This fresco was created from 1337 to 1339 to decorate the premises of the Sienese government - the Hall of the Nine in the Palazzo Publico.

In the XIV century, the topic of reasonable government was widely discussed in society, bringing good and prosperity to the subjects of the state. It was her in allegorical form that the artist illuminated.

The work is a series of six frescoes depicting the consequences of good and bad government. These are sketches of funny and dramatic situations against the backdrop of urban and rural landscapes. Unfortunately, many fragments fell into disrepair at the end of the 14th century and, despite regular restorations, have not been preserved.completely.

Lorenzetti in allegorical form depicts the results of reasonable government: peace, prosperity, development of culture. At the same time, the consequences of bad governance are chaos, war and destruction. In the cycle of frescoes, the master does not use religious motives and biblical comparisons. It was a very bold and unexpected decision for the time.

A place in history

Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti became one of the brightest representatives of the Sienese school of painting along with Duccio di Buoninsegna, Francesco di Giorgio and Simone Martini. These artists skillfully mixed the features of the Venetian, Renaissance and Gothic style of depiction.

Lorenzetti gave a powerful impetus to the further development of world art with his work. His work with the three-dimensional space of the picture, volume and palette helped followers to better understand the perspective.

He brought an unexpected realism and liveliness to classic biblical stories. Such great artists as Rafael Santi and Sandro Botticelli subsequently looked back on his skill.