Andrea Mantegna

Andrea Mantegna (c. 1431–September 13, 1506) was an Italian Renaissance artist from Florence, whose work included paintings, engravings, and frescoes.

Biography

Mantegna was born in Isola di Cartura. His father was a woodcutter. Around 1450, Mategna emerged as an independent master. He had started as the apprentice of Francesco Squarcione in Padua at the age of ten. Squarcione was something of a fanatic for ancient Rome, and taught Mantegna the Latin language and instructed him to study fragments of Roman sculpture. He also preferred forced perspective. Elements of both influences can be seen in Mantegna's work.

Related Topics:
Isola di Cartura - 1450 - Francesco Squarcione - Padua - Ancient Rome - Latin language - Sculpture - Forced perspective

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Squarcione legally adopted Mantegna, and it was the court case that filed by Mantegna at the age of 17 to separate himself from Squarcione that marked the begining of Mantegna's career. Mantegna's early career was shaped by impressions of Florentine works and an assumed contact with Donatello is evident in his works. He is considered (along with Masaccio) one of the two most important painters of the early Renaissance. Mantegna was able to carry out his own commissions by age 17. Over the following decade, he reached artistic maturity and over the following fifty years he broadened his artistic range, without abandoning his developed style. In 1453, Mantegna married Jacopo Bellini's daughter. In 1460, Mantegna was appointed court artist to the Gonzaga family, rulers of Mantua. (Janson 426)

Related Topics:
Adopted - Donatello - Masaccio - 1453 - Jacopo Bellini - Court artist - Gonzaga - Mantua

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