My Life as an Artist- Introduction
One of the most influcencial artists of the Italian Renaissance. Yes, that is one the first thoughts that comes to mind when people hear my name, Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, more commonly known as Masaccio. By this year of 1428, I have painted over nine frescos, or mural paintings (some individually and others along with the help of my once dear friend Masolino), and I’m currently working on a painting I intend to title The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden. I am extremely passionate about my artistic collections and my greatest wish is that they will continued to be observed and enjoyed in the future, when I will no longer reside on earth.
The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden before and after restoration. The first fresco shown is an image of the primary painting.
My Life as an Artist- Famous Works
I can remember working on my very first fresco as if it were yesterday. I titled it the San Giovenale Triptych and it was completed in 1422. Although the San Giovenale Triptych is not very well known, I am very proud of it because creating it was the first big accomplishment in my career as an artist. I have inserted an image of the original painting below. Some other works of mine up until this year (1428) include: Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (1424), Madonna with Child (1424), Tribute Money (1428), and Holy Trinity (1428). I often wonder why my frescos are admired by many. After all, there are many great painters of my time such as Masolino, Donatello, and Brunelleschi. When pondering over this topic, I always conclude that the popularity of my works is due to my fascination with three dimensional drawings because I am one of the first artists to paint with this method.
My Life as an Artist- Friends and Colleagues
There are sometimes days when I miss my old friend Masolino very much. During the period of time in which we worked together, we were called the duo preciso e noto (well known duo). I learned a great deal about painting from Masolino. He was like my mentor, but he was also a very good friend. I will never forget creating the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (1424). It was very hard to see him relocate from Italy to Hungary in 1425, though it was for the best because we were starting to form many opposing artistic opinions as we matured. I have inserted an image of the original Virgin and Child with Saint Anne below.
While working with Masolino and studying in Florence, I acquired two friends by the names of Donatello and Brunelleschi. With these friends, I continued to paint with a love for three dimensional frescos. I hope that my desire to discover and perfect new artistic methods will inspire artists of the future.