Biography Benozzo Gozzoli

1 biography

1.1 apprenticeship
1.2 in umbria
1.3 return florence
1.4 late years in tuscany

1.4.1 san gimignano
1.4.2 pisa

biography
apprenticeship

gozzoli born benozzo di lese, son of tailor, in village of sant ilario colombano around 1421. family moved nearby florence in 1427. according 16th century italian biographer giorgio vasari, gozzoli pupil , assistant of fra angelico in part of career. in role, gozzoli assisted angelico in execution of fresco decorations in dormitory cells of convent of san marco in florence. established contributions here include adoration of magi in cosimo de medici s cell , women @ tomb in larger depiction of resurrection of christ in cell 8. many other renaissance painters, benozzo trained goldsmith painter. between 1444 , 1447, therefore able collaborate lorenzo ghiberti on famous gates of paradise of florence baptistery.

madonna , child giving blessings, santa maria sopra minerva, rome, 1449.

on may 23, 1447, benozzo fra angelico in rome, called pope eugene iv carry out fresco decorations in chapel in vatican palace. chapel later demolished, nothing of these works remains. accompanied angelico umbria, decorated chapel vault in orvieto cathedral. due political complications in city, completed 2 of 4 vault webs , again summoned vatican. there, pair worked nicholas v in niccoline chapel until june 1448. gozzoli assumed have made significant contributions in chapel s frescoes. furthermore, 1449 madonna , child giving blessings in church of santa maria sopra minerva painted gozzoli , perhaps designed angelico. in rome, gozzoli executed fresco of st anthony of padua in basilica of santa maria in aracoeli.

both fra angelico , lorenzo ghiberti influence of gozzoli s work rest of life. ghiberti learned precision in depicting finest details , how illustrate story vividly, while fra angelico, took bright color palette, transferring art of fresco painting.

in umbria

scenes life of st francis, museum complex of san francesco, montefalco, 1452.

in 1449, gozzoli left angelico , moved umbria. in hilltown of narni there annunciation 1450, signed opu[s] benot[i] de florent[ia]. in monastery of san fortunato, near montefalco, gozzoli painted madonna , child between st. francis , st. bernardine of siena, , 3 other works. 1 of these, altarpiece madonna of girdle, in vatican museums , shows affinity of benozzo s style angelico s.

in 1450, gozzoli received first major independent commission monastery of s. francesco in montefalco. there, filled choir chapel 3 registers of episodes life of st francis of assisi , various accessories, including portrait heads of dante, petrarch , giotto. these works completed in 1452, , still marked style of angelico, crossed here , there more distinctly giottesque influence. in same church, in chapel of saint jerome, there fresco gozzoli of virgin , saints, crucifixion , other subjects.

gozzoli remained @ montefalco (with interval @ viterbo) untill 1456, employing pier antonio mezzastris assistant. then, went perugia , painted virgin , saints in local academy.

return florence

journey of magi (east wall), magi chapel of palazzo medici-riccardi, florence, 1459–1461.

that same year, benozzo returned native city florence, epicenter of quattrocento art. between 1459 , 1461, gozzoli painted may considered important works, frescoes in magi chapel of palazzo medici-riccardi. there, in journey of magi bethlehem , angels in adoration, mastered combination of complexity , subtlety, portraying wealthy scene encompasses realistic depictions of nature , vivid human portraits. in journey of magi, gozzoli incorporated numerous portraits of medici patrons, allies , prominent contemporary figures. furthermore, included self-portrait in procession, name written around rim of cap.

the middle king, magi chapel of palazzo medici-riccardi, florence, 1459–1461.

his frescoes in magi chapel brought gozzoli great amount of fame , ensured him of new important commissions. 1 of these altarpiece confraternity of purification in florence, housed in convent of san marco. virgin , child enthroned among angels , saints produced between 1461 , 1462 occasion houses in national gallery, london.

late years in tuscany
san gimignano

in 1463, in fear of plague, gozzoli left florence san gimignano, executed extensive works. prominent of these seventeen-panel fresco cycle on life of st augustine, covering entire apsidal chapel in church of sant agostino. in same church gozzoli completed composition of st. sebastian protecting city plague, in depicted st. sebastian clothed , unhurt, thereby going against iconographic canon. in 1465, @ town s heart in collegiate church of santa maria assunta, gozzoli furthermore painted fresco of martyrdom of sebastian. stayed in san gimignano until 1467, completing further works in city , vicinity.

pisa

in 1469, gozzoli moved pisa , began working on extensive commission: vast series of mural paintings in campo santo edifice of pisa. there, depicted twenty-four subjects old testament, ranging invention of wine noah visit of queen of sheba solomon. contracted paint 3 subjects per year ten ducats each. appears, however, contract not strictly adhered to, actual rate of painting 3 pictures in 2 years. perhaps great multitude of figures , accessories accepted set-off against slower rate of production.

by january 1470 had executed fresco of noah , family, followed curse of ham, building of tower of babel (which contains portraits of cosimo de medici, young lorenzo, angelo poliziano , others), destruction of sodom, victory of abraham, marriages of rebecca , of rachel, life of moses, etc. in cappella ammannati, facing gate of campo santo, painted adoration of magi, wherein appears portrait of himself.

all enormous mass of work, in benozzo assisted zanobi macchiavelli, performed, in addition several other pictures during stay in pisa (including glory of st. thomas aquinas, in louvre), in sixteen years, lasting 1485. latest date can certainty assigned work hand. gozzoli died in pistoia in 1497, perhaps of pestilence.

in 1478, token of regard, pisan authorities had given him tomb in campo santo. likewise had house of own in pisa, , houses , land in florence.