Which Italian city was the most important during the Late Gothic period? What was going on in this city that made it so important?

1. Which Italian city was the most important during the Late Gothic period? What was going on in this city that made it so important?

The city of Florence was the most important during the late gothic period. There was increased urbanization in the cities which led to increased population. This made the Florence City have double of the people. There was also an expansion of international trade and finance innovations. The city was also the centre of modern architecture

2. What is tempera (or gold ground) painting? What is a fresco painting? How do these two painting techniques differ (materials, process, and final appearance)? Provide an example of each technique.

Tempera painting is a fast-drying permanent painting medium that consists of pigments which are coloured. It is commonly mixed with a blinder that is water-soluble most probably glutinous material like the yolk of the egg. It is sometimes referred to as the gold ground painting that was commonly used in Italy. An example of the tempera painting is the last supper painting. Fresco painting is a technique of a painting that is executed upon the freshly laid or the plaster that has wet lime. In this painting, the water is used to drive away from the dry powder pigment that merges with the plaster and the plaster settings whereby the painting becomes an important part of the painted wall. An example of the fresco painting is Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel. The two techniques differ in a way that the tempera paint is mixed with the blinder with different colours while the fresco painting drives away the dry painting.

3. How would you describe Cimabue’s style? What connection does he have to Giotto?

Cimabue’s style can be described that he applied natural and soft outlines with the muscles and bones which were thinner. His 3D designs exhibited the sentimental and dramatic approach of art. He worked with the egg tempera in the creation of his fire scores and religious paintings and murals. Cimabue is connected to Giotto in a way that they all participated in the religious paintings which were different during that era. Their painting styles were characterized with the roman paintings which described the religious activities and were commonly done in the religious backgrounds. Giotto was also a pupil of Cimabue.

4. What was new and different about Giotto’s art?

Giotto is commonly referred to as the father of modern European paintings. He is one of the first great Italian Masters. Giotto helped in the decoration of many chapels of Assisi, Florence, Rome, Padua, and Naples, among others. Giotto’s art was different in many ways when compared to the previous paintings. He used the tempera technique in his paintings which had never been used before. His artworks were also about the religious things which were unique. He is also known for introducing several features in the paintings before 16^th centuries in Italy.

5. What were some of the similarities and differences between the cities of Florence and Siena?

Florence and Siena are the cities in Italy that have a good history of painting. Florence was formed around 200BC while Siena was founded in 400BC. Both the two cities have remained in the modern world as the historical icon of the paintings. The cities have roads constructed in a way that elaborates the cultural events which took place a long time ago so that the tourists can have the clue of the traditional paintings. Florence has around 360,000 residents while Siena has 270,300.

6. What was the Black Death, and when did it occur? How did the Black Death affect the lives of the people in Europe? How did it affect the art?

Black Death is a plague that is a historical pandemic which resulted in the death of more than 200 million people in North Africa and Eurasia. It took place from 1346 to 1353. The Black Death killed many people affecting economic activities. It made it difficult for the people to harvest the crops, and produce other goods and services hence causing drought in Europe. Most of the Europeans health workers also died during that period. It affected the art industry since most of the individuals who participated in the industry died while it was also difficult to access the raw materials for the artworks.

7. Following the Black Death in Europe, there were a number of changes in the economic system. Describe these changes. What impact did these changes have on society?

After the Black Death, several changes in the economic system in Europe changed. People were encouraged to work for extra hard to recover the losses incurred during the plague season. There was an increased wage for the workers so that they would feel motivated while working to recover the economy. The government encouraged people to grow cash crops to sustain their lives. This led to the rise of agricultural activities. The changes also made people adapt to the changes and recover the economy easily.

8. What role did Duccio’s Maesta have in the city of Siena?

Duccio was working in the city of Siena in the 14^th century and made several changes, especially on the department of artwork. He started exhibiting painting techniques which were later adopted in the city to make it one of the painting centres in history. He painted the Cathedral of Siena using the techniques which had never been used before. In short, Duccio remains to be the icon of the modern religious paintings in Siena City.