Cimabue (Cenni di Peppi)

Years of life:	1240 – 1302
Artist's students:	Giotto di Bondone (?)
Art Movement:	Proto Renaissance
Painting School:	Florentine School

Genre:	Religious
Country:	Italy
Century:	XIII , XIV

Cimabue was the most prominent Florentine painter of the late thirteenth century and a contemporary of Dante. Traditionally said to be Giotto’s teacher and the founder of a new “realistic” style as opposed to the static and “unrealistic” Byzantine style. Cimabue depicted credible three-dimensional space, human form, and emotion. So many works have been attributed to him that his name has almost come to represent a group of like-minded artists rather than an individual, although it is known for certain that Chimabue is a real historical figure.

Cimabue’s major works are Maestà, 1280–85 (Florence: Galleria degli Uffizi); Madonna and Child Enthroned with Two Angels and Sts. Francis and Dominic, c. 1300 (Florence: Palazzo Pitti); Christ Enthroned between the Virgin and St. John the Evangelist, 1301–02 (Pisa Cathedral).

References:

Robert Cumming. Art: complete encyclopedia. – 512 p. – Moscow: Astrel, 2005.

Artworks:

Christ in Majesty (Cimabue) in the Duomo di Pisa

Christ in Majesty (Cimabue) in the Duomo di Pisa
The Flagellation of Christ

1280

The Flagellation of Christ • 1280
Santa Trinita Maestà (Madonna Enthroned; Madonna and Child Enthroned with Eight Angels, Santa Trinita Madonna)

between 1290 and 1300

Santa Trinita Maestà (Madonna Enthroned; Madonna and Child Enthroned with Eight Angels, Santa Trinita Madonna) • between 1290 and 1300
Maestà (Virgin Enthroned with six Angels)

1280s

Maestà (Virgin Enthroned with six Angels) • 1280s
Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis and Four Angels

between 1278 and 1280

Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis and Four Angels • between 1278 and 1280
Crucifixion from Santa Croce in Florence

between 1287 and 1288

Crucifixion from Santa Croce in Florence • between 1287 and 1288
The crucifix (before restoration), preserved in the church of San Domenico in Arezzo

1268-1271

The crucifix (before restoration), preserved in the church of San Domenico in Arezzo • 1268-1271
Vision of Angels at the Four Corners of the Earth

1280s

Vision of Angels at the Four Corners of the Earth • 1280s
Madonna Enthroned with the Child and Two Angels

Madonna Enthroned with the Child and Two Angels
Peter heals a lame man

1280s

Peter heals a lame man • 1280s
Death of Mary

1280s

Death of Mary • 1280s
Virgin and Child

old

Virgin and Child
Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis and Four Angels

between 1278 and 1280

Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis and Four Angels • between 1278 and 1280
Saint Francis

1280s -1290s

Saint Francis • 1280s -1290s
Crucifixion of the left transept

1280s

Crucifixion of the left transept • 1280s
Fragment of angels

1280s

Fragment of angels • 1280s
Vision of Saint John at Patmos

1280s

Vision of Saint John at Patmos • 1280s
Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, scene: Apocalypse, detail: Christ Pantocrator

1280-1283

Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, scene: Apocalypse, detail: Christ Pantocrator • 1280-1283
Madonna enthroned with eight angels and four prophets, detail

1285-1286

Madonna enthroned with eight angels and four prophets, detail • 1285-1286
Madonna enthroned with eight angels and four prophets, detail

1285-1286

Madonna enthroned with eight angels and four prophets, detail • 1285-1286
Santa Trinita Maestà (Madonna Enthroned; Madonna and Child Enthroned with Eight Angels, Santa Trinita Madonna)

between circa 1290 and circa 1300

Santa Trinita Maestà (Madonna Enthroned; Madonna and Child Enthroned with Eight Angels, Santa Trinita Madonna) • between circa 1290 and circa 1300
Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis and Four Angels detail

between 1278 and 1280

Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis and Four Angels detail • between 1278 and 1280
Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, fresco in the crossing vault, scene: St. Lucas, detail

1280-1283

Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, fresco in the crossing vault, scene: St. Lucas, detail • 1280-1283
Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, fresco in the crossing vault, scene: St. Marco

1280-1283

Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, fresco in the crossing vault, scene: St. Marco • 1280-1283
Evangelists

1280-1283

Evangelists • 1280-1283
Death of Mary

1280s

Death of Mary • 1280s
Dormition

1280s

Dormition • 1280s
Miracle of Saint Peter

1280s

Miracle of Saint Peter • 1280s
Martyrdom of Saint Paul

1280s

Martyrdom of Saint Paul • 1280s
Crucifixion of Peter

1280s

Crucifixion of Peter • 1280s
Fall of Simon Magus

1280s

Fall of Simon Magus • 1280s
Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi

1280-1283

Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi • 1280-1283
Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, south transept, scene: Apocalypse

1280-1283

Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, south transept, scene: Apocalypse • 1280-1283
Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi

1280-1283

Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi • 1280-1283
Christ at the Apocalypse

1280s

Christ at the Apocalypse • 1280s
Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, scene: apocalypse, detail: angel

1280-1283

Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi, scene: apocalypse, detail: angel • 1280-1283
Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi

Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi
Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi

1280-1283

Frescoes in the upper church of San Francesco in Assisi • 1280-1283
Madonna with child

between 1283 and 1284

Madonna with child • between 1283 and 1284