Andrea del Castagno
Born: c. 1421, Castagno, Republic of Florence Died: August 19, 1457, Florence
Italian Renaissance painter influenced chiefly by Masaccio and Giotto. His works include frescoes in Sant'Apollonia and the painted equestrian monument of Niccolò da Tolentino in Florence Cathedral. He influenced the Ferrarese school of Cosmè Tura, Francesco del Cossa, and Ercole de' Roberti.
Artworks
Last Supper
Considered the first "Last Supper" of the Renaissance in Florence, located in the refectory of the former Benedictine convent of Sant'Apollonia. Judas is depicted sitting separately on the near side of the table, unlike all the other apostles. The fresco is notable for its perspective illusion, as if the scene was happening in a small room and the viewer was observing from outside. The highly detailed marble walls hearken back to Roman "First Style" wall paintings. Saint John's posture of innocent slumber neatly contrasts with Judas's tense, upright pose. The fresco was hidden behind plaster for over a century because the convent was cloistered. Vasari did not know of its existence. It may have influenced Leonardo da Vinci's later version, painted about 50 years later.
Pippo Spano
Portrait of Filippo Scolari, known as Pippo Spano. Born in Florence, he became a general of King Sigismund and fought in the Hussite Wars, where he was beaten by Jan Žižka.
Equestrian Monument of Niccolò da Tolentino My Study Self-researched
A painted equestrian monument honoring the Italian condottiero Niccolò da Tolentino. Located on the left internal wall of the church next to the earlier fresco of John Hawkwood by Paolo Uccello. Both frescoes simulate three-dimensional sculptural monuments through illusionistic painting.
