Italy Timeline

1280
to 1285
Cimabue Paints his Maestà for the Santa Trinità Church
The picture originally stood on the high altar of Santa Trinità church in Florence. The iconography is frequent in medieval painting and represents the Madonna enthroned with Child and an...
1280
to 1283
Cimabue Paints the Frescos of the Church of San Francesco at Assisi
Cimabue was commissioned to paint two very large frescoes for the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. They are on the walls of the transepts: a Crucifixion and a Deposition. Unfortunately ...
1290 Giotto Paints the Crucifixion of Rimini for the Santa Maria Novella Church
According to Vasari, Giotto's earliest works were for the Dominicans at Santa Maria Novella. These include a fresco of the Annunciation and the enormous suspended Crucifix which is about ...
1303
to 1310
Giotto Paints the Marriage at Cana for the Interior of the Scrovegni Chapel
Sometime between 1303 and 1310 Giotto executed (and signed) his most influential work, the painted decoration of the interior of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. This chapel, the building a...
1314
to 1327
Giotto Paints the Ognissanti Madonna
In 1311 Giotto returned to Florence, A document from 1313 shows his presence in Rome, where he executed a mosaic for the façade of the old St. Peter's Basilica, commissioned by Cardinal J...
1324 Jan 8 Marco Polo Dies
In 1323, Polo was confined to bed, due to illness. On January 8, 1324, despite physicians' efforts to treat him, Polo was on his deathbed. To write and certify the will, his family reques...
1334 Construction Begins on Giotto's Belltower in Florence
On the death in 1302 of Arnolfo di Cambio, the first Master of the Works of the Cathedral, and after an interruption of more than thirty years, the celebrated painter Giotto di Bondone wa...
1403 Ghiberti Announced Winner of Sculpting Competition over Brunelleschi
In 1401, Brunelleschi entered a competition to design a new set of bronze doors for the baptistery in Florence. Along with another young goldsmith, Lorenzo Ghiberti, he produced a gilded ...
1411
to 1413
Donatello Sculpts his Saint Mark
Donatello's Saint Mark (1411-1413), is a marble statue that stands approximately seven feet and nine inches high in an exterior niche of the Orsanmichele church, Florence. Donatello was c...
1416 Donatello Sculpts his Saint George
The full power of Donatello first appeared in two marble statues, St. Mark and St. George (both completed c. 1415), for niches on the exterior of Or San Michele, the church of Florentine ...
1419 Construction Begins on Brunelleschi's Ospedale degli Innocenti
The Ospedale degli Innocenti ('Hospital of the Innocents', also known in Italian as Lo Spedale degli Innocenti), was a children's orphanage in Florence, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, ...
1420 Construction Begins on Brunelleschi's Dome
By the beginning of the fifteenth century, the drum of the church was built. However, the 42 meter wide space above the church's chancel still did not have the planned octagonal cupola, e...
1428
to 1438
Donatello Collaborates with Michelozzo on the External Pulpit of the Prato Cathedral
The Cathedral of Prato (Italian: Duomo di Prato) is the main Catholic church of Prato, Tuscany, Central Italy and seat of the bishop. It is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first Christian m...
1430 Cosimo de' Medici Commissions Donatello to Sculpt his Bronze David
Around 1430, Cosimo de' Medici, the foremost art patron of his era, commissioned from Donatello the bronze David (now in the Bargello) for the court of his Palazzo Medici. This is now Don...
1452 Apr 15 Leonardo da Vinci is Born in Vinci
Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452, "at the third hour of the night"[nb 5] in the Tuscan hill town of Vinci, in the lower valley of the Arno River in the territory of Florence. He was th...
1453 Donatello's Equestrian Statue, "Gattamelata", is Placed on its Pedestal
Erasmo of Narni (1370 – January 16, 1443), better known as "Gattamelata", (The nickname means "The Honeyed Cat") was among the most famous of the condottieri or mercenaries in the Italian...
1455 Donatello Carves his Mary Magdalene
Donatello was apparently inactive during the last three years at Padua, the work for the San Antonio altar unpaid for and the Gattamelata monument not placed until 1453. He had dismissed ...
1460 Donatello Sculpts his Judith and Holofernes
The bronze sculpture Judith and Holofernes (1460), created by Donatello at the end of his career, can be seen in the Hall of Lilies (Sala dei Gigli), in the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Ita...
1466 Leonardo da Vinci Begins Apprenticeship at Verrochio's Workshop
n 1466, at the age of fourteen, Leonardo was apprenticed to one of the most successful artists of his day, Andrea di Cione, known as Verrocchio. Verrocchio's workshop was at the centre of...
1469
to 1473
A Young Michelangelo Contributes to the Ark of Saint Dominic
The Arca di San Domenico (Ark of Saint Dominic) is a monument containing the remains of Saint Dominic. It is located in Dominic’s Chapel in the Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna, Italy....
1472
to 1475
Leonardo da Vinci Paints the Annunciation
The painting "Annunciation" or "The Annunciation" by Leonardo da Vinci was painted, with Andrea del Verrocchio, circa 1472–1475. The wings were later extended by another artist. The an...
1476 Leonardo da Vinci Paints the Portrait of Ginevra de' Benci
Ginevra de' Benci (Born 1457) was a lady of the aristocratic class in 15th century Florence, admired for her intelligence by Florentine contemporaries. She is the subject of one of only a...
1478 Leonardo da Vinci Paints The Benois Madonna
Madonna and Child with Flowers, otherwise known as the Benois Madonna, could be one of two Madonnas started by Leonardo da Vinci, as he remarked himself, in October 1478. The other one co...
1478
to 1480
Leonardo da Vinci Paints the Madonna of the Carnation
The Madonna of the Carnation, a.k.a. Madonna with vase or Madonna with child, is an oil painting by Leonardo da Vinci created sometime around 1478-1480 (Renaissance). It is permanently ...
1478
to 1480
Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Self-Propelled Cart
For many years, folio 812r of the Codex Atlanticus was considered as Leonardo’s famous “automobile” project. Only recently has it revealed its true nature as a cart devised for use in the...
1480 Leonardo da Vinci Paints St. Jerome in the Wilderness
It depicts Saint Jerome during his retreat to the Syrian desert, where he lived the life of a hermit. St Jerome kneels in a rocky landscape, gazing toward a crucifix which can be discerne...
1481 Leonardo da Vinci Paints the Adoration of the Magi for the Monks of San Donato a Scopeto in Florence
The Adoration of the Magi is an early painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo was given the commission by the Augustinian monks of San Donato a Scopeto in Florence, but departed for Milan...
1483
to 1486
Leonardo da Vinci Paints the First Madonna of the Rocks
The Virgin of the Rocks (sometimes the Madonna of the Rocks) is the usual title used for both of two different paintings with almost identical compositions, which are at least largely by ...
1483 Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Design for a Parachute
Some think that a form of a primitive parachute was mentioned by Chinese texts 21 centuries ago. In 9th century Abbas Ibn Firnas and Ali Ben Isa (of Arabic origin) also created one of the...
1485 Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Design for a Giant Crossbow
Leonardo’s project for a giant crossbow is found in a number of sheets in the Codex Atlanticus and Fol 149r shows the most well-defined and complete drawing. The effort put into the de...
1485 Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Design for a Scythed Chariot
The scythed chariot is potentially one of the most lethal battlefield weapons and has ancient origins, though Leonardo noted their propensity to damage friend as readily as foe. The drawi...
1485 Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Design for a Tank
Leonardo probably drew this model of a war machine for a presentation to Ludovico il Moro, “The Moor”, Duke of Milan, around 1485. The drawing in the original manuscript therefore appears...
1487 Leonardo da Vinci Draws the Vitruvian Man
The Vitruvian Man is a world-renowned drawing created by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1487. It is accompanied by notes based on the work of Vitruvius. The drawing, which is in pen an...
1487
to 1489
Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Armored Vessel
This armoured assault vessel is probably one of the projects that Leonardo presented to Ludovico il Moro, “the Moor”, Duke of Milan, in order to obtain a commission as a military engineer...
1488 Leonardo da Vinci Designs his Ideal City
After Filarete's project for Sforzinda, an ideal city in honor of Francesco Sforza, Leonardo, as well, was fascinated by the idea of planning a city as a formally complete organism. The ...
1488
to 1489
Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Design for a Flying Machine
Leonardo studied mechanical wings for a long time and this is a reconstruction of one of the many projects for a flying machine documented in Manuscript B. In his fascination with flyi...
1488
to 1490
Leonardo Sketches the Design for a Double-Decker Bridge
Leonardo’s idea for a double-deck bridge is surprisingly modern. It recalls the function of bridges in some modern metropolis where the two-way flow of traffic is arranged on different le...
1489
to 1490
Leonardo da Vinci Paints Lady with an Ermine
Lady with an Ermine is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, from around 1489–1490. The subject of the portrait is identified as Cecilia Gallerani, and was probably painted at a time when she ...
1490 Ghirlandaio Paints "An Old Man and his Grandson"
The frescoes in Santa Maria Novella are overcrowded with detail, so that the compositions fail to make their full impact. Some of Ghirlandaio’s smaller panel paintings, particularly the p...
1490 Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Design for an Adding Machine
On February 13, 1967 an amazing discovery was made by American scientists working in the National Library of Spain, Madrid. They had chanced upon 2 unknown works of Leonardo da Vinci, kno...
1490
to 1505
Leonardo da Vinci Writes his Codex on the Flight of Birds
Codex on the Flight of Birds is a relatively short codex of circa 1505 by Leonardo da Vinci. It comprises 18 folios and measures 21 × 15 centimetres. Now held at the Biblioteca Reale in T...
1492 Clay Model Horse for Leonardo da Vinci's Francesco Sforza Monument is Completed
[Leonardo] worked on many different projects for Ludovico, including the preparation of floats and pageants for special occasions, designs for a dome for Milan Cathedral and a model for a...
1492 Michelangelo Completes his Wooden Crucifix
The Crucifix is a polychrome wood sculpture thought to be by High Renaissance master Michelangelo, finished in 1492. It is located at the high altar of the Church of Santa Maria del Santo...
1493 Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Design for the "Aerial Screw"
The first studies on helicopters were well in advance of the first airplanes. Leonardo da Vinci is credited with having first thought of a machine for vertical flight, the "airscrew," the...
1495
to 1498
Leonardo da Vinci Paints the Last Supper
The Last Supper (Italian: Il Cenacolo or L'Ultima Cena) is a 15th century mural painting in Milan created by Leonardo da Vinci for his patron Duke Ludovico Sforza and his duchess Beatrice...
1495
to 1508
Leonardo da Vinci Paints the Second Madonna of the Rocks
The Virgin of the Rocks (sometimes the Madonna of the Rocks) is the usual title used for both of two different paintings with almost identical compositions, which are at least largely by ...
1499
to 1500
Leonardo da Vinci Draws the Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist
The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist, sometimes called The Burlington House Cartoon, is a full-size cartoon by Leonardo da Vinci. It is a combination of two themes po...
1499 Michelangelo Sculpts La Pietà
La Pietà (1499) is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It is the first of a number of works of the same theme by the artist. Th...
1500 Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Design for a Machine Gun
In Leonardo's notebooks there is an array of war machines which includes a tank to be propelled by two men powering crank shafts. Although the drawing itself looks quite finished, the mec...
1502 Leonardo da Vinci Sketches the Design for the Golden Horn Bridge
In 1502 Leonardo da Vinci produced a drawing of a single span 720-foot (240 m) bridge over the Horn as part of a civil engineering project for Sultan Bayezid II. The vision was resurrecte...
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