Who was Giorgio Vasari? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Italian Celebrities Born In July

Died At Age: 62

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Nicolosa Bacci

father: Antonio Vasari

mother: Maddelena Tacci

Writers Historians

Died on: June 27, 1574

place of death: Florence, Italy

Founder/Co-Founder: Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze

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Childhood & Early Life

Giorgio Vasari was born on 30 June, 1511 in the city of Arezzo in Tuscany, Italy, to Antonio Vasari and his wife Maddelena Tacci. His father was a potter and his grandfather was also a craftsman by trade.

Italian renaissance painter Luca Signorelli, who was also his cousin, took an interest in the affairs of Giorgio Vasari when he was young and set him up to train under the guidance of the painter Guglielmo de Marcillat. He trained under him till he was well into his teens.

In 1527, when Vasari was 16 years old, he was sent to Florence, the art capital of Italy at the time, and that is where his serious training in the arts got underway. In Florence, Vasari was trained by Andrea del Sarto and also became acquainted with other painters including Michelangelo who influenced his style. Vasari also became well acquainted with the Medici family during his time in Florence.

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Career

After completing his art training in Florence, Giorgio Vasari travelled to Rome in 1527 in to have a look at the work of the Roman artists in order to imbibe some of it into in his own work. Vasari became one of the most favoured painters for the influential Medici family who gave him plenty of commissions in different cities in Italy.

It was in the year 1547 that Giorgio Vasari completed the frescoes at the hall of Palazzo della Cancellaria located in Rome and the elaborate fresco came to be known as Saladei Cento Giorni. It was the toughest assignment of his career at the time.

Giorgio Vasari next became involved in chronicling the lives, times, works and techniques of the great artists of the era and published his book ‘Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects’ in the year 1550. It was the first work of its kind and it was Vasari who first coined the term Renaissance in that book. The book was later on amplified to include many other writers and came to be known as ‘Lives’

His most famous artwork began in the year 1555 when he undertook the task of painting the frescoes at Palazzo Vechhio, located in Florence. Like many other commissions of his career, this too was completed with the help of a team of artists.

Although it is true that Giorgio Vasari started off as a painter, it is as an architect that he is more highly regarded by experts. One of his most well-known works as an architect was the Uffizi in Florence. Commissioned by a member of the Medici family, it was built in 1560. Other works include the Cavalieri di San Stefano palace in Pisa. Vasari also undertook renovation work for big churches.

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Major Works

Although Giorgio Vasari was an artist as well as an architect by profession; his most important and celebrated work is the book ‘Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects’. It was published in 1550 and chronicled the lives of renaissance artists. It serves as an excellent work for students of the history of art but at the same time critics have argued that the book displays a bias for artists from Florence.

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Personal Life & Legacy

Giorgio Vasari got married to Nicolosa Bacci in 1549, at the age of 38. There is no record of the couple ever having any children. However, prior to his marriage Vasari did have two children, whose mother might have been his housemaid.

While working on a project, Giorgio Vasari died on 27 June 1574. He was 62 years old.

Giorgio Vasari Biography