Simone Martini

Simone Martini: see Martini, Simone.

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Simone Martini 

Born circa 1284 in Siena; died July 1344 in Avignon, France. Italian painter.

Simone Martini followed in the tradition of Duccio di Buoninsegna, under whom he probably trained. He was also influenced by French Late Gothic art. In addition to working in Tuscany, Simone worked in Naples (1317), Orvieto (1320), Assisi (1320’s), and Avignon (from 1340). His works include several frescoes, including Maestd (Palazzo Pubblico, Siena, 1315), scenes from the life of St. Martin of Tours (lower church of San Francesco, Assisi, c. 1326), and a portrait of the condottiere Guidoriccio dei Fogliani (Palazzo Pubblico, Siena, 1328). He also did a number of altarpieces, for example, St. Louis of Toulouse Crowning His Brother, King Robert ofAnjou (c. 1317, National Museum and Gallery of Capodimonte, Naples), Annunciation (1333, Uffizi Gallery, Florence), and The Lord’s Passion (1340’s, Berlin-Dahlem Picture Gallery and other museums).

Chivalric ideals of the past, with an intrinsic refined spiritualism, gradually became dominant in Simone’s works. An emotionally expressive palette and refinement of line and silhouette characterize the artist’s paintings. While Simone worked in Avignon, he became close friends with Petrarch, for whom he did a portrait of Laura (now lost) and the frontispiece of a manuscript of Vergil (Ambrosiana Library, Milan).

REFERENCES

Paccagnini, G. Simone Martini. Milan, 1955.
Carli, E. Simone Martini. Milan, 1959.
Mariani, V. Simone Martini e il suo tempo. Naples [1968].