NAME: Scène mythologique
ENGLISH NAME: Mythological scene
ARTIST: Di Giovanni
MEDIUM: Oil on Panel
PAINTING SIZE: 29.5 x 39 cm (11.5 x 15.25 inches)
ABOUT:
Believed to be the French School rendition of:
Benvenuto di Giovanni, also known as Benvenuto di Giovanni di Meo del Guasta, was an Italian painter born on September 13, 1436, in Siena, Italy. He worked primarily in Siena throughout his life and was active as an artist from 1453 until his death around 1518. Benvenuto was renowned for his choral miniatures, pavement designs, and frescoes, contributing significantly to the artistic landscape of Siena.
He began his career collaborating with the artist Vecchietta on frescoes in the Siena Baptistery and was likely trained in Vecchietta's workshop. His early work also shows the influence of Sano di Pietro. Over time, Benvenuto's style evolved, particularly in the 1480s, when he began to incorporate bright colors and manipulated light into his paintings, influenced by the works of Liberale da Verona and Girolamo da Cremona.
Benvenuto's major works include the *Annunciation and Saints* (1466) and the *Ascension of Christ* (1491). His son, Girolamo di Giovanni, also became a painter, and their works are sometimes confused due to stylistic similarities. Despite exploring other fields, painting remained a central part of Benvenuto's life, and he left behind a significant body of work that continues to be studied and admired today.