Giotto di Bondone

Giotto di Bondone was a pioneering Italian painter and architect active during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He is often credited with breaking away from the Byzantine style of painting, introducing more naturalism and emotional expression to art. His work, particularly in frescoes, emphasized three-dimensionality and human emotion, making religious stories more relatable. Giotto's most famous works include the frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua and the Campanile of Florence. His innovative techniques laid the groundwork for the Renaissance, influencing generations of artists and changing the trajectory of Western art.