About the Artist

Sassetta (c. 1392 Siena-1540 Siena), whose given name was Stefano di Giovanni, was probably trained at the atelier of Paolo di Giovanni, was probably trained at the atelier of Paolo di Giovanni Fei. The first official mention of his name was in Siena in 1427. Sassetta is considered one of the most important Sienese painters of the Quattrocento. His work coresponds stylistically to the transitional period when the international Gothic style gave way to the early Renaissance, and reveals the influence of Masaccio and Masolino. Sassetta preserves in his compositons the elegant contour work and spatial perspetive that Simone Martini introduced into Sienese painting about 100 years earlier, and developed his own, often fairy-tale-like, narrative style. Among the artist's works are Virgin and Child with Angels and Four Saints, 1430-1432, Collozione Contini Bonacossi, Palazzo Pitti, Florence; Mystical Marriage of St. Francis with Chastity, Poverty and Humility, 1437-1444, Musee Conde, Chantilly; and The Coronation of the Virgin, fresco, 1447, Porta Romana, Siena.