Page 304 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

302  CENTR AL IT AL Y

h Cappella Brancacci

The Church of Santa Maria del Carmine is famous for the
Brancacci Chapel, which contains frescoes on The Life of
St Peter commissioned by the Florentine merchant Felice
Brancacci around 1424. Although the paintings were
begun by Masolino in 1425, many of the scenes are by his
pupil, Masaccio (who died before completing the cycle)
and by Filippino Lippi, who finished the work in 1480.
Masaccio’s revolutionary use of perspective, his narrative
drama and the tragic realism of his figures placed him in
the vanguard of Renaissance painting. Many great artists,
including Michelangelo, later visited the chapel to study
his pioneering work.
St Peter Healing the Sick
Masaccio’s realistic portrayal
of cripples and beggars was
revolutionary in his time.

KEY
1 Masaccio’s simple style allows
us to focus on the figures central to
the frescoes without distracting detail.
2 The grouping of stylized figures
in Masaccio’s frescoes reflects his
interest in the sculpture of Donatello.
3 In every scene, St Peter is
distinguished from the crowds as
the figure in the orange cloak.
4 St Peter is depicted against a
background of Florentine buildings.
5 Masolino’s Temptation of Adam
and Eve is gentle and decorous, in Expulsion of Adam and Eve
contrast with the emotional force Masaccio’s ability to express emotion is well
of Masaccio’s painting on the illustrated by his harrowing portrait of Adam
opposite wall. and Eve being driven out of the Garden of Eden,
their faces wracked by misery, shame and the
burden of self-knowledge.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96

302-303_EW_Italy.indd 302 4/4/17 5:35 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 3rd September 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm