Who was Cimabue?
Q: Who was Cimabue?
A: Cimabue (c.1240 - c.1302) was a painter from Florence in Italy who worked in the Late Medieval period. His real name was Cenni di Peppi.
Q: What works of art are known to be definitely by Cimabue?
A: The only works of art that are known to be definitely by Cimabue are the mosaic of Christ in Majesty in Pisa Cathedral and two very large ruined frescos in the Church of St Francis in Assisi.
Q: What is the most famous painting believed to be by Cimabue?
A: The most famous painting that is believed to be by Cimabue is the "Madonna of Santa Trinita" which is an altarpiece that was done for the Church of the Holy Trinity. It is now in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Q: Where were two large crucifixes painted by him hung?
A: Two large crucifixes painted by him hung in the Church of St Domenic in Arezzo and the Church of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce, Florence). The crucifix of Santa Croce was ruined in a flood and is now in the church's museum.
Q: Who wrote about Cimabue's life 250 years after his death?
A: Giorgio Vasari wrote about Cimabue's life, 250 years after his death.
Q: How did he discover Giotto as an apprentice?
A: According to Giorgio Vasari, one day while walking through countryside, he saw a little shepherd boy scratching a picture of a sheep onto a rock and it impressed him so much that he went to boy’s father and asked if he could take him as his apprentice and teach him how to paint . This boy turned out to be Giotto who became very famous painter later on and considered as first Italian Renaissance painter .
