Hey everyone! My name is Tiffany and I'm originally from Lenoir, NC, but I'm currently a sophomore here at Duke. I'm double majoring in Political Science and International Comparative Studies and minoring in Italian. I'm also really into arts and music, so I'm a part of Hoof 'n' Horn's Cabaret group and the Duke Chorale.
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This article is currently a stub, so I will essentially be writing the entire article. However, I do plan on first improving what is currently there. That includes lengthening the "lead section," rewording some sentences, checking citations, and greatly expanding upon the ideas that are currently there. I will also compile a reliable list of sources in order to write a scholarly article. I will eventually have enough information to be able to have multiple subsections in my article, as well as more pictures.
The article currently has very little information and what it does have tends to jump around from topic to topic in a rather unorganized manner. Therefore, I'll improve it through including more detail and organizing the article better. I'll begin by discussing his early life and then move into his career. When I'm discussing his career, I can talk about his most influential works individually. I'll most likely conclude by discussing his family life and death.
this source has already been cited in the article, but it still has much more relevant information that I can draw from
Thomas N. Maytham. "An Expulsion from Paradise by Benvenuto Di Giovanni." Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts 55, no. 300 (1957): 44-46. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4171262.
B. Cole: Sienese Painting in the Age of the Renaissance (Bloomington, 1985), pp. 122–8 *
Wallace Collection catalogue of pictures (Lilly) *
The sixteenth century Italian paintings (Lilly) ND615.N3823 *
ProQuest Dissertations (Andrea di Niccolo) *
In US, don't have to worry about copyright (NGA catalogue, other museum catalogues) *
Benvenuto di Giovanni
Benvenuto di Giovanni, also known as Benvenuto di Giovanni di Meo del Guasta (13 September 1436 – c. 1518) was an Italian painter and artist known for his choral miniatures, pavement designs, and frescoes. He was first recognized to be working as an artist in 1453 and continued his work nearly until his death in approximately 1518. During his lifetime, he was influenced by many various artists and in the 1480s, Benvenuto's style changed drastically.[2]
Though Benvenuto did explore into other fields of work, painting was consistently a part of his life. His son, Girolamo di Giovanni, followed in his footsteps and also became a painter. In fact, there have often been instances in which the work of one the two has been confused for that of the other.[3] Nevertheless, Benvenuto left behind significantly more works, with dates spanning a period of 43 years.[2]
Life and Influences
Born to a bricklayer in Siena, Benvenuto remained there for his entire life, only occasionally venturing to nearby cities for his work. The first records of him as an artist are of his contributions to the Siena Baptistery in 1453. His work here was likely in collaboration with il Vecchietta, as it is believed that Benvenuto was trained in his workshop. Outside of Vecchietta, Benvenuto was also likely to have worked under Sano di Pietro because they share a number of similarities stylistically.[2]
Benvenuto was commissioned to do a number of works in the Siena Cathedral during his life that included choral miniatures, pavement designs, and frescoes. However, he was not the only artist requested to work in the cathedral; artists and painters such as Matteo di Giovanni, Francesco di Giorgio, and Neroccio de' Landi were also commissioned for nearly the same jobs. This commonality led to Benvenuto and the other artists having quite a bit of influence upon one another's style.[2]
Other painters that had works in the Siena Cathedral were Liberale de Verona and Girolamo da Cremona. What sets these artists apart is that it is believed that their pieces in the cathedral were what led to Benvenuto's great shift in style during the 1470s and 1480s. In 1482, he was commissioned to paint Donation of the Keys to St. Peter in the Antiphonary of the Birth of St. John. It was at this time that he saw Liberale and Girolamo's recent works in the cathedral that incorporated bright colors and manipulated light. As a result of this, he began to do the same in his paintings. Additionally, not only did his style shift in this way, but he also began to experiment with the concept of spatial distortion that was common in paintings by Vecchietta and Donatello. His style became one that was both distinct and unique. He used a very naturalistic style for his figures, but paired them with a brightly colored and sharply lit background.[4] These shifts in his style can be seen in paintings such as Maestà and Ascension.[2]
Outside of painting, Benvenuto also explored other personal endeavors. In 1466, he married Jacopa di Tommaso de Cetona. After their marriage, he served at least two terms in a public office. Together, they owned a vineyard and also had seven children. The only child that much is known about is Girolamo, as he was Benvenuto's only follower. However, Girolamo is regarded as both less gifted and less influential since he only survived his father by six years.[2][5]
Major Works
Annunciation
It is known that Benvenuto painted at least two versions of the Annunciation. His first Annunciation is the earliest known painting by him, dated in 1466. Despite this being his first work, there was little evidence of the influence of his teacher, Vecchietta. Rather, this work was very clearly inspired by Simone Martini's 1333 painting of the same name. Many other Annunciation works by other artists during Benvenuto's lifetime prioritized landscapes and backgrounds, but Benvenuto employed a simple gold background that was typical in works of the early Trecento.[6] Benvenuto's 1466 version resides in the church of St. Girolamo in Volterra.[7]
Benvenuto's growth as an artist is evident through comparison of his 1466 Annunciation with his 1470 version. In 1466, Benvenuto opted for a more subtle coloration in his work. However in 1470, while many of his contemporaries still utilized softer palettes, Benvenuto chose to paint with rich, deep colors that pleased the viewer's eye. This shift in style is likely to have been inspired by two artists that were quite famous during the latter part of the Quattrocento, Girolamo da Cremona and Liberale da Verona. Additionally, Benvenuto traded in his previous flat gold background for one of detailed scenery, including lush gardens, mountains, and lakes.[6]
Expulsion from Paradise
This painting, done by many artists, depicts Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden by the archangel, Jophiel. However, Benvenuto's version stands out from the others because his depiction of Eden is far more realistic than that of others. He paints Eden as a lush green forest rather than a land full of a myriad of plants and animals. He expertly constructs the figures in a way that makes the subjects come alive through the intermingling of their arms and angling of their bodies.[6] Most likely painted between 1480 and 1500, this exhibits Benvenuto's later style that combines realism and dramatic subjects.
At this time, nothing is known of this painting's provenance before 1921, when it became a part of the Engel-Gros Collection. In fact, even the validity of who may be the artist of this painting underwent speculation. Expulsion from Paradise is unsigned and was originally attributed to Benvenuto's son, Girolamo. The credit continued to be given to his son for quite a while, until it was also given to Cosimo Tura, and then finally to Benvenuto, which was settled upon by art historians.[8]
Despite the credit eventually being given to Benvenuto, it is likely that this confusion arose in the first place due to their probable collaboration on the piece. Towards the end of his life, Benvenuto regularly worked with his son, which this piece seems to exhibit. The design itself appears to be Benvenuto's, but certain aspects point towards the assistance of his son. The details of the figures' faces, as well as their shaping, is in a style that is typical of Girolamo.[6]
Minor Works
The Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi, c.1470/1475
This theme is one that has been depicted in Italian paintings since the Middle Ages, but it became particularly popular with Sienese painters after Bartolo di Fredi created his triptych to decorate the altar of the Three Kings in the Siena Cathedral. After this creation, Bartolo's influence began to be seen in nearly every Sienese painting of the same theme, including Benvenuto's. However, the influence of other artists is evident as well. It is believed that Benvenuto's version was inspired by Gentile da Fabriano's 1423 version that was commissioned by the Church of Santa Trinità.
Benvenuto's work now resides in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, but is currently not on exhibit. The date of the painting is unknown, with guesses ranging from 1460 to 1490. The difficulty in deciphering the date largely comes from the wear on the work, with most of the original painting being now covered by retouches. Nevertheless, when compared to Bevenuto's dated pieces, many art historians are convinced that it was completed between 1470 and 1475. This conclusion is a result of the perspective of the painting. Much like his 1470 Annunciation, the apparent vanishing point of the painting is lower than the horizon of the background would suggest.[4]
Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Bernardino of Siena
Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Bernardino of Siena, c. 1480/1485
Unlike many of Benvenuto's works, this one in particular has consistently been attributed to him without any confusion. Nevertheless, its date is still unclear. In most paintings of this theme, Madonna's child is held in her arms, but Benvenuto depicts him seated in front of her. The child is holding a pomegranate that is representative of both the Church and the blood of Christ. The choice to not place the child in Madonna's arms as well as the inclusion of the pomegranate are both artistic decisions that don't appear in Italian paintings until significantly after 1470, thus, the painting's date has been approximated as c. 1480/1485.
Much of the confusion with the date of this painting revolves around the fact that it doesn't quite fall into either Benvenuto's early, flat and crisp, style or his later, brightly colored and more detailed, style. It is far simpler than nearly all of his paintings, likely due to his patron's request. Recently, the first expressions of doubt of his attribution have surfaced due to this stark contrast. Nevertheless, attribution still lies in Benvenuto's hands.[4]
Extant Signed and Dated Paintings
Benvenuto has 11 signed and dated paintings that are still surviving. Their dates of creation span 43 years.[7]
More information Name of Painting, Year of Creation ...
Thomas N. Maytham. "An Expulsion from Paradise by Benvenuto Di Giovanni." Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts 55, no. 300 (1957): 44-46. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4171262.
"GIROLAMO DI BENVENUTO DI GIOVANNI DEL GUASTA." Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed February 28, 2017, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/benezit/B00075004.
Thomas N. Maytham. "An Expulsion from Paradise by Benvenuto Di Giovanni." Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts 55, no. 300 (1957): 44-46. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4171262.
