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Paolo Uccello Facts

Paolo Uccello Facts
Paolo Uccello was an Italian artist most well-known for his pioneering style in visual art perspective. He was born Paolo di Dono in 1397 in Pratovecchio, Italy, to his father Dono di Paolo, a barber-surgeon, and his mother Antonia, a Florentine. By the age of only 10 Paolo was already apprentice to Lorenzo Ghiberti, a famous sculptor at the time. Paolo was greatly influenced by his mentor's narrative style and composition. While apprenticing under Lorenzo Paolo became friends with Donatello (a Renaissance sculptor), and they remained friends for life. Paolo was admitted to Florence's Painter's Guild in 1415, and he left his apprenticeship in about 1420 to work on his own.
Interesting Paolo Uccello Facts:
Paolo's nickname 'Uccello' came because of his fond habit of painting birds.
Paolo's Uccello's first painting is believed to be a commission for Lelmo's hospital - a Saint Anthony.
Paolo was then commissioned to paint two figures in Annalena's convent.
Paolo Uccello's next commission was a collection of three frescoes above Santa Trinita church above the left door, depicting scenes from Saint Francis' life.
Paolo Uccello painted a fresco of the Annunciation for the church Santa Maria Maggiore.
In the church of San Miniato Paolo Uccello painted the "Lives of the Church Fathers".
In 1424 Paolo was making his living as an artist.
In 1425 Paolo went to Venice and created mosaics for San Marco's façade - all of which have since been destroyed.
In 1431 Paolo returned to Florence and painted frescoes in Bologna and at the Prato Cathedral.
In 1436 Paolo Uccello was given a commission to create the fresco of Sir John Hawkwood, an English mercenary active in Italy.
Paolo Uccello was so obsessed with perspective that he would often stay up all night perfecting the vanishing point.
Paolo Uccello's most famous paintings are the three depicting the battle of San Romano. Each of these paintings were made with egg tempura, walnut oil and linseed oil on wooden panels. The panels are longer than three meters each.
Paolo Uccello's three painting depicting the Battle of San Romano include "Niccolo Mauruzi da Tolentino", "Niccolo Mauruzi da Tolentino unseats Bernardino della Ciarda", and "The Counterattack of Michelotto da Cotignola".
The Battle of San Romano paintings were commissioned by a Bartolini Salimbeni family member at some point between 1435 and 1460. The three paintings are divided between London's National Gallery, Florence's Galleria degli Uffizi, and Paris' Musee du Louvre.
In his later years Paolo Uccello spent most of his life creating works for various patrons and for churches.
Paolo Uccello married Tommasa Malifici in 1453. In that same year their son Donato was born, followed by their daughter Antonia in 1456.
In his last few years Paolo declared on his taxes that he could no longer work because he was ill, and that his wife was also ill.
Paolo Uccello's last known piece of art was "The Hunt", created in 1470.
Paolo Uccello died on December 10th, 1475 at the age of 78 in the hospital in Florence, and was buried in his father's tomb in the Santo Spirito church in Florence.


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