Andrea di Bartolo di Simone was born in Castagno, Italy, near Florence, in around 1419. He is commonly referred to using his pseudonym, Andrea del Castagno. Not much is known about his difficult early years of life due to the lack of records. Although, it is said he had an abusive father. It is known that Andrea moved to Corella during a war between Florence and Milan, but moved back afterward. By 1440, he was well-known enough to be commissioned for his art. One of his first works was multiple frescoes, painted on the Palazzo del Podestà, showing traitors being hung by their heels after the Battle of Anghiari. For that artwork, he was given the nickname of “Little Andrea of the Hanged Men”. By 1442, Andrea was in Venice and painting frescoes in the San Tarasio chapel with …show more content…
On May 30th, 1444, Andrea joined the Arte dei Medici e Speziali guild, and received random commission work afterward. His work from those commissions did not survive into the present. In 1447, Andrea painted one of his most famous pieces of art, Last Supper, in the Convent of Sant’Apollonia. His piece clearly foreshadows or portrays the betrayal and tension between Jesus and Judas by placing Judas on the opposite side of Jesus and the other Disciples. Last Supper is also a perspective masterpiece, giving the unique perspective of the viewer being the fourth wall. Some of his other famous works include David with the Head of Goliath and Madonna with Child and Saints. His work of David features nice contrapposto and exquisite chiaroscuro. Also, his piece with the Madonna features intricate pattern details in the background. Andrea’s last dated art, done in 1456, is a portrait of Niccolò da Tolentino on a horse. Andrea del Castagno died on August 19th, 1457, in Florence, due to the plague. His works, however, still have lasting influence today. He was very skilled in chiaroscuro and perspective and is viewed as an