Simone Martini

Martini was active as a painter in central Italy (mostly Siena), Naples and Avignon and he is considered one of the outstanding painters of 14th-century Europe. He is known for his grand formal altarpieces involving a range of decorative techniques that were simply beyond the reach of most of his contemporaries.His documented oeuvre is also noteworthy for its rich contrasts, moving freely between descriptive realism and abstract decoration, thus revealing a restless and innovative artistic temperament. Outstanding works include his "Maestà" (1315 and 1321), the altarpiece of "St. Louis of Toulouse" (1317), and the fresco decoration and stained glass designs for the Chapel of St. Martin in the lower church of S. Francesco, Assisi. Although he is better documented than most of his peers, there are still remain many questions regarding chronology and attribution. He may have trained in the workshop of Duccio.

Source: ULAN