Italian painter, born in Florence, Italy, in 1397; died there on the 11th of December 1475. From his love of birds his surname of Dono was changed to Uccello, or Uccelli. He learned the goldsmith’s art, and acted as one of the assistants of Ghiberti when this great artist was working on the admirable doors of the Florence Baptistery. In the Duomo nearby is found the colossal equestrian portrait of Sir John Hawkwood, painted by Uccello in chiaroscuro, by means of terra verde. His frescoes in Santa Maria Novella, Florence, have vanished from sight. In Padua, in the mansion of the Vitaliani, are some giants, also done in terra verde. This artist showed admirable decorative skill. Among his smaller pictures, the Louvre Museum owned a panel containing his portrait and that of his contemporaries, the artists, Giotto, Donatello, Brunelleschi and Giovanni Manetti. The National Gallery, London, has also some examples of this artist’s work.
