# Simone Martini

> Italian painter

**Wikidata**: [Q221043](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q221043)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Martini)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/simone-martini

## Summary
Simone Martini was an Italian painter and illuminator active in the early 14th century, known for creating significant medieval religious artworks including frescoes, altarpieces, and manuscript illuminations, with notable works such as the Maestà in Siena and the fresco commemorating Guidoriccio Da Fogliano.

## Biography
- Born: around 1280-1284 (specifically +1284-01-01T00:00:00Z)
- Nationality: Italian
- Known for: Italian painter and illuminator known for medieval religious artworks
- Employer(s): Not explicitly stated in the source material
- Field(s): Painting, illumination

## Contributions
Simone Martini created several significant artworks throughout his career:
- Created "Commemoration of Guidoriccio Da Fogliano at the Siege of Montemassi" as a fresco between 1328 and 1330
- Created "Codex Ambrosianus (Petrarca)" as a manuscript illumination in 1300
- Created "Triptych of Saint Augustine" as a triptych in 1328
- Created "Saint Catherine of Alexandria Polyptych" as an altarpiece in 1320
- Created "Maestà" as a fresco in 1315 at Palazzo Pubblico in Siena
- Created "Orsini Polyptych" as a dismembered altarpiece in 1333
- Created "Saint Louis of Toulouse crowns Robert of Anjou" as a painting in 1317 at Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte
- Created "Annunciation with Saints Maxima and Ansanus" as a painting with Lippo Memmi in 1333 at Uffizi

## FAQs
- **Where did Simone Martini work?** He created works across Italy, with major commissions in Siena and other Italian cities, including works at Palazzo Pubblico in Siena and Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte.
- **What are some of his most famous works?** His most notable works include the Maestà fresco in Siena, the fresco commemorating Guidoriccio Da Fogliano, and the Saint Catherine of Alexandria Polyptych.
- **When did he create his major works?** His major works span from 1315 to 1333, with his earliest documented work being the Maestà in 1315 and his latest being the Orsini Polyptych in 1333.
- **What was his relationship with other artists like Lippo Memmi?** He collaborated with Lippo Memmi on the Annunciation with Saints Maxima and Ansanus, indicating a professional relationship and shared artistic projects.

## Why They Matter
Simone Martini played a crucial role in the development of Italian Gothic art, particularly in Siena. His works represented a transition from the more rigid Byzantine styles to the more naturalistic and expressive approaches that would characterize later Italian painting. His influence can be seen in the development of the Sienese school of painting and influenced subsequent generations of artists. Without his contributions, the evolution of Italian medieval art would have taken a different path, with less emphasis on naturalistic human figures and more complex compositions.

## Notable For
- Created the Maestà fresco in 1315 at Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, a landmark work of Sienese art
- Produced the fresco commemorating Guidoriccio Da Fogliano between 1328 and 1330
- Created the Saint Catherine of Alexandria Polyptych in 1320, an important altarpiece
- Collaborated with Lippo Memmi on the Annunciation with Saints Maxima and Ansanus in 1333
- Developed the Triptych of Saint Augustine in 1328
- Created the Orsini Polyptych as a dismembered altarpiece in 1333
- Produced the painting "Saint Louis of Toulouse crowns Robert of Anjou" in 1317

## Body
### Early Life
Simone Martini was born around 1280-1284 in Siena, Italy. The exact date of his birth is not precisely documented, but his career began in the early 1300s. He was part of the Sienese artistic tradition that was developing during this period, which was influenced by both Byzantine and Italian artistic traditions.

### Career and Major Works
Martini's career spanned approximately 40 years, from around 1300 to 1344. His works represent a significant period in the development of Italian Gothic art. He is particularly known for his frescoes and altarpieces that combined religious symbolism with more naturalistic human figures and compositions.

#### The Maestà (1315)
One of his most famous works is the "Maestà," a fresco created in 1315 for the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena. This large-scale work depicted the Madonna and Child with saints and angels, representing a significant commission for the city of Siena.

#### The Fresco of Guidoriccio Da Fogliano (1328-1330)
Between 1328 and 1330, Martini created the fresco "Commemoration of Guidoriccio Da Fogliano at the Siege of Montemassi." This work depicted the Sienese victory over the Guelphs and was commissioned by the city of Siena to commemorate their military success.

#### The Saint Catherine of Alexandria Polyptych (1320)
In 1320, Martini created the "Saint Catherine of Alexandria Polyptych," an altarpiece that featured the saint as the central figure surrounded by other religious figures. This work demonstrated his skill in creating complex compositions with multiple figures.

#### Collaborations with Lippo Memmi
Martini collaborated with Lippo Memmi on several works, most notably the "Annunciation with Saints Maxima and Ansanus" created in 1333. This painting, now housed in the Uffizi, shows the Annunciation scene with additional saints, demonstrating the collaborative nature of medieval artistic production.

#### The Triptych of Saint Augustine (1328)
In 1328, Martini created the "Triptych of Saint Augustine," a religious work that featured the saint as the central figure with other religious figures in the side panels. This work was created for a specific patron and demonstrates his ability to create works for different religious contexts.

#### The Orsini Polyptych (1333)
In 1333, Martini created the "Orsini Polyptych," a dismembered altarpiece that was later separated into individual panels. This work was created for the Orsini family and represents the transition toward more portable religious artworks.

#### The Painting of Saint Louis of Toulouse (1317)
In 1317, Martini created the painting "Saint Louis of Toulouse crowns Robert of Anjou" for the Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte. This work depicted a significant historical event and demonstrates his skill in creating narrative paintings.

### Legacy and Influence
Martini's work had a significant impact on the development of Italian Gothic art. His naturalistic approach to human figures and his complex compositions influenced subsequent generations of Sienese artists. His works helped establish the Sienese school of painting as one of the most important artistic traditions in Italy during the medieval period. Without his contributions, the evolution of Italian art would have taken a different path, with less emphasis on the naturalistic representation of human figures and more complex compositions.

### Technical and Artistic Style
Martini's works demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of color, composition, and religious symbolism. His use of gold leaf in many of his works was typical of medieval religious art, but he also incorporated more naturalistic elements in his figures and settings. His style combined the Byzantine influence with the emerging Gothic naturalism, creating a distinctive Sienese artistic tradition.

### Professional Relationships
The source material indicates that Martini worked on several collaborative projects, most notably with Lippo Memmi on the Annunciation with Saints Maxima and Ansanus. This suggests that artistic production during this period often involved teams of artists working together on complex commissions.

### Documentation and Legacy
Various properties from Wikidata provide documentation of Martini's works and career. His works are documented with specific dates, locations, and descriptions, indicating that his artistic output was well-documented during his lifetime and has been preserved through subsequent centuries. The sitelink counts for his works suggest that his legacy has been studied and documented extensively in modern times.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. KulturNav. 2016
4. [Source](http://kmska.be/collection/work/data/1nudkd)
5. The Fine Art Archive
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. MusicBrainz
10. Art UK
11. Benezit Dictionary of Artists
12. RKDartists
13. Athenaeum
14. Artnet
15. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
16. collections.artsmia.org
17. Art UK painters database
18. National Library of Portugal
19. Sapere Encyclopedia
20. AGORHA
21. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
22. artist list of the National Museum of Sweden. 2016
23. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Martini%20Simone)
24. [Source](https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k123255q/f173.item)
25. [Source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Le_vite_de_piv_eccellenti_architetti,_pittori,_et_scvltori_italiani_-_da_Cimabve_in_sino_à_tempi_nostri_(IA_gri_vitedepivecc01vasa).pdf&page=176)
26. [Source](https://archive.org/details/gri_vitedepivecc01vasa/page/170/mode/1up)
27. CONOR.SI
28. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani
29. lives of the most excellent painters,sculptors,and architects
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31. Vies des peintres, sculpteurs et architectes
32. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
33. Enciclopedia Treccani
34. LIBRIS. 2013
35. Metropolitan Museum of Art
36. [Source](https://www.fine-arts-museum.be/nl/de-collectie/artist/martini-simone-1)
37. [Collectie Boijmans Online](https://www.boijmans.nl/en/collection/artworks/3008/pieta)
38. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
39. catalogo.beniculturali.it
40. [Source](https://library.nga.gov/permalink/01NGA_INST/1cl1g8d/alma994248527904896)
41. [Source](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/artists/436)