Painting in the Age of Paolo Uccello

This lecture will introduce the scope and contents of the course, using as a point of departure the life and career of Paolo Uccello of Pratovecchio (1397-1475), his pioneering use of perspective and his contributions to early Renaissance painting, focusing on key works found in Florence’s churches and museums. We will examine the famous Battle of San Romano (1432), housed in the Uffizi Gallery, where Uccello’s mastery of linear perspective transforms a chaotic battle scene into a structured, almost surreal composition. Another highlight will be his fresco cycle in the Green Cloister (1447-1448) iin Santa Maria Novella, showcasing his dramatic use of space and light to convey movement and emotion. We will also explore his Funerary Monument to Sir John Hawkwood (1436) in the Florentine Cathedral, a masterful trompe-l'œil equestrian portrait that blends painting and fictive sculpture. These works will help us understand Uccello’s experimental approach and his lasting influence on Renaissance art. The lecture will be followed by welcome refreshments and an informal tour of the Harold Acton Library.

Detail of Uccello’s Battle of San Romano (1432)

Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

If you are in Florence and would like to attend this session in person at the British Institute Library, please follow the link to Selected Sessions. To enrol on the full course, please follow the link to Full Enrolment. If you would like to attend this session online, please follow the link to Online Sessions.

If you are unable to access our online registration portal, any form or duration of enrolment may be requested by simply sending an email to bif@britishinstitute.it