The Italian painter Spinello Aretino was born in Arezzo in 1350 to a family of goldsmiths who had relocated there following their exile from Florence in 1310. Active throughout Tuscany during the late 14th and early 15th centuries, he produced a significant body of frescoes and panel paintings that bridged the stylistic approaches of the Giotto and Sienese schools.
Early Career and Florentine Activity
Born as Spinello Di Luca Spinelli, he initially practiced in Florence where he assisted the painter Jacopo del Casentino. While early historical accounts linked him to the followers of Giotto, modern scholars treat this connection with caution. His early career included work on frescoes for the church of the Carmine and Santa Maria Novella. Between 1360 and 1384, he completed numerous frescoes in and near Arezzo, although most of these compositions have not survived.
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Following the 1384 sack of Arezzo, the artist relocated to Florence. In 1387 and 1388, he led a team of assistants to decorate the walls and vault of the sacristy at San Miniato. These works, depicting scenes from the life of Saint Benedict, remain extant. Later, in 1391 and 1392, he executed six frescoes for the Pisan Campo Santo illustrating miracles of Saint Potitus and Saint Ephesus, a commission for which he earned 270 gold florins.
Siena and Final Years
During the final stages of his career, he focused on large-scale decorative projects. In 1407 and 1408, he created a series of frescoes for the municipal buildings in Siena, including the Sala di Balia of the Palazzo Pubblico, which chronicled the conflict between Frederick Barbarossa and Pope Alexander III. He died in his native Arezzo around 1410.
Artistic Legacy and Institutional Holdings
While he produced numerous panel paintings, many appear to be collaborative outputs from his workshop. His technical strength is more clearly visible in his mural cycles. Today, his work is held in several international collections, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Chicago Art Institute, the Hermitage Art Museum, and the RISD Art Museum. Notable specific works include the Mystical marriage of Saint Catherine, Saint Stephen, and the Triptych of Madonna enthroned with child and saints.
Fast facts
- Born: 1350, Arezzo
- Died: 1410, Arezzo
- Field: Painting
- Nationality: Italian
- Notable commission fee: 270 gold florins
- Family occupation: Goldsmiths
Questions readers ask
What is the origin of the name Aretino?
It means from Arezzo, which is his birthplace.
Are his panel paintings considered his best work?
Historians generally consider his frescoes to be superior in style and execution compared to his panel paintings, which often show signs of being workshop productions.
Achievements
- Notable work: Mystical marriage of Saint Catherine
- Notable work: Saint Stephen
- Notable work: Triptych of Madonna enthroned with child and saints
