Artists You Should Know: Giotto

Brittney K. wrote to ask,

"Please could you help me with information about Giotto, such as why he was important and how you're supposed to say his name?"

(She then said "Thank you", a happy ending that never fails to make me both inclined to help and wildly optimistic about Those Kids Today.)

Well, Brittney dear, I wrote up a little profile of Giotto to help you get started in your research. Two things that aren't in the profile - but are sort of fun to know - are that Giotto was a fantastic businessman and a celebrity. It turns out that he was so adroit at handling his commission money, he was able to support a wife or two and eight children (trust me, Brittney, that's a bunch of money for shoes, alone) in comfortable style. He was also on familiar terms with the Pope, and the King of Naples was his close personal friend. (Not too shabby for a former shepherd, was it? There's a moral in here about hard work and talent, but you're such a polite young person I'll spare you.) Thanks for writing and asking questions, and enjoy your research!