Chapter 14 Comparison Between 13th and 14th Centuries Artwork

Cimabue and Giotto Di Bondone painted the same subject, but there were numerous distinctions. One of the reason was Cimabue was an Italian Gothic painter, while Giotto was a Renaissance painter. So the distinction in their work was explicable. Cimabue painted Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets in 1280-1290 whereas Giotto painted Madonna Enthroned in 1310, about 20-30 years after Cimabue’s painting. Both the painters used same technique, tempera and gold leaf on wood. However, their perspectives were different. Giotto used top-back perspective making it look like saints are standing on top of each other, while Giotto used linear perspective. Giotto created illusion of depth by using the stairs, and illusion of space by facing all the characters toward center creating a focal point, on Mary and Jesus. On the other hand, Cimabue created depth through use of light and dark colors. Giotto’s picture is more realistic because the baby Jesus was sitting like an ordinary child with Mary holding him instead of baby Jesus portrayed like a fictional character. Also Cimabue’s artwork was highly symmetrical and very stoic, but Giotto’s portrayal was fairly symmetrical.