Trecento

The term "Trecento" (Italian for "three hundred") refers to the 14th century (the 1300s) in Italian art and literature. It is a period of significant transition, bridging the gap between the Middle Ages and the Early Renaissance. Artistically, it is characterized by a move away from the more rigid, stylized forms of Byzantine and Gothic art towards a greater sense of naturalism and humanism. Prominent artists of the Trecento include Giotto di Bondone, considered a pivotal figure in Western art for his innovations in perspective and the representation of emotion; Duccio di Buoninsegna, known for his Sienese altarpieces; and Simone Martini, celebrated for his elegant and refined style. In literature, the Trecento is distinguished by figures such as Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, and Boccaccio, whose works laid the foundation for the development of the Italian language and literary tradition. The Black Death, which ravaged Europe in the mid-14th century, also profoundly impacted the art and culture of the Trecento, leading to a focus on themes of mortality and religious devotion.