Ghirlandajo

Ghirlandajo, Domenico called the (1449-1494), was born at Florence. Brought up as a jeweller, he took to making portraits of every one he saw. In 1480 he painted St. Jerome and other subjects in a church, and a fresco of the Last Supper. In 1481-85 he worked at frescoes in the Palazzo Vecchio, and was then summoned by Sixtus IV. to Rome to aid in decorating the Sistine Chapel. Here he painted Christ Calling Peter and Andrew and other works.

He then returned to Florence, and painted frescoes illustrating the life of St. Francis in the church of Sta. Trinita and incidents from the life of the Madonna and St. John Baptist for the church of Sta. Maria Novella. He introduced many historical and other portraits into his work. He is considered especially good in design and perspective, but his colours have suffered. Ridolpo (1483-1561), son of the above, was also a painter of some note.