Paolo Uccello 003 - The Yorck Project Masterpieces of Painting

Paolo Uccello (1397–1475) was an outstanding Italian artist of the XV century, a bright representative of the religious, historical, and portrait genres. Paolo Uccello is known in European painting primarily for his innovative approach to solving the problem of visual perspective. He had no followers, so the style of the master's work differs significantly from the manner of painting paintings by other artists of the Early Renaissance. Many facts from the biography of the painter have been lost forever, but the brilliant Italian left many beautiful works to his descendants.

Early Renaissance or Quattrocento (Italian mille quattrocento, or 1400) refers to the 15th century in Florentine art. Extraordinary wealth was accumulated in Florence among a growing middle and upper class of merchants and bankers. Florence saw itself as a city-state where the freedom of the individual was guaranteed, and where a significant share of residents had the right to participate in the government. In 1400 Florence was engaged in a struggle with the Duke of Milan. Then, between 1408 and 1414 again, by the King of Naples. Both died before they could conquer Florence. In 1425 Florence won the war against Milan. The Florentine interpreted these victories as signs of God's favor and imagined themselves as the "New Rome". In this new optimistic and wealthy environment, Florentine artists immersed themselves in studies of the humanities, architecture, philosophy, theology, mathematics, science, and design. They spurred a rejuvenation of the glories of classical art in line with the humanistic and individualistic tendencies of the contemporary era. Quattrocento was followed by the High Renaissance, North European Renaissance, Mannerism, and Baroque periods. Unlike the previous proto-renaissances, the innovations that emerged in Florence would go on to cause reverberations in Italy and Northern Europe, which continue to influence culture until today.