Pietro Cavallini

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Pietro Cavallini (1259–1330) was an Italian painter and mosaic designer working during the early Renaissance.

His Last Judgment in the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome, painted circa 1293 demonstrates an artistic style known as Roman naturalism. This naturalism will influence the work of artists working in other Italian cities such as Florence and Siena.

In Siena, the influence of classical Roman forms combines with the Byzantine artistic heritage of the region and with northern Gothic influences to form a naturalized painting style known as International Gothic.

In Florence, the influence of classical Roman forms combines with the Byzantine artistic heritage of the region to spark an interest in volumetric, naturalistic paintings and statuary. This work is in stark contrast to the comparatively flat and ornamented Gothic, International Gothic, and Byzantine styles.

This naturalism is also evident in the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi in Assisi, built in the last years of the 13th century in honor of the newly canonized St Francis. As the cathedral was commissioned by the Roman church, its interior is painted in the Roman tradition. The identities of the artists at work in this church are for the most part not known but at least one team of artists came from Rome. Owing to the similarity of the work in San Francesco to that of Florentine artist Giotto, he was traditionally credited with some of the frescoes, although most scholars no longer believe he was involved.

Giotto's work in the Arena Chapel (also known as the Scrovegni Chapel) at Padua strongly shows the influence of stylized Roman naturalism in a newly individualized style which would come to characterize the work of Florentine Renaissance artists.

Cavallini's pupils included Giovanni di Bartolommeo.

His works include:

• Jael and Tisseran (date unknown), watercolour

• Scenes from the life of Mary (1291), mosaics at the apse of Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome:
  • Nativity of the Virgin
  • Annunciation
  • The Birth of Jesus
  • Adoration of the Magi
  • Presentation in the Temple
  • Dormition

The six scenes were made by the order of Cardinal Bertoldo Stefaneschi. These mosaics are praised for their realistic portrayal and attempts of perspective.

• The Last Judgement (1295-1300), part of fresco cycle at Santa Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome

The apse paintings at San Giorgio al Velabro, Rome, have been attributed to him on the basis of stylistic similarity to the Trastevere paintings.

The apse mosaic of the San Crisogono church in the Trastevere district, depictig the Mary with St Sebastian and Chrysogonos, is also attributed to Cavallini.

• Media on Pietro Cavallini in the Wikicommons.