Origins & Early Life

Piero della Francesca ( PYAIR-oh DEL-ə fran-CHESK-ə, US also -⁠ frahn-; Italian: [ˈpjɛːro della franˈtʃeska] ; né Piero di Benedetto de' Franceschi; c. 1415 – 12 October 1492) was an Italian painter, mathematician and geometer of the Early Renaissance, nowadays chiefly appreciated for his art. His painting is characterized by its serene humanism, its use of geometric forms and perspective. His most famous work is the cycle of frescoes The History of the True Cross in the Basilica of San Francesco in the Tuscan town of Arezzo.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Piero was born Piero di Benedetto in the town of Borgo Santo Sepolcro, modern-day Tuscany, to Benedetto de' Franceschi, a tradesman, and Romana di Perino da Monterchi, members of the Florentine and Tuscan Franceschi noble family. His father died before his birth, and he was called Piero della Francesca after his mother, who was referred to as "la Francesca" due to her marriage into the Franceschi family (similar to Lisa Gherardini who was known as "la Gioconda" through her marriage into the Giocondo family). Romana supported his education in mathematics and art. He was most probably apprenticed to the local painter Antonio di...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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