Giorgio Vasari (30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574) was an influential Italian Renaissance painter, architect, art historian, and biographer, best known for his work Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects. This book laid the foundation for Western art history and is still referenced in modern biographies, despite containing some inaccuracies, especially regarding earlier artists.
Vasari was a prominent Mannerist painter and architect, championing Florentine superiority in the arts. He worked for the Medici court and designed architectural landmarks such as the Loggia of the Palazzo degli Uffizi and the Vasari Corridor, which connects the Uffizi to the Palazzo Pitti. He also contributed to the renovation of churches, including the Basilica of Our Lady of Humility in Pistoia.
Born in Arezzo, Tuscany, Vasari studied under artists like Luca Signorelli and Andrea del Sarto. He worked on major frescoes and inspired artists such as Sebastiano Flori and Bartolomeo Carducci. His most famous architectural work was the tomb of Michelangelo in Santa Croce, Florence.
Vasari’s Lives provided the first comprehensive collection of artistic biographies and detailed the methods and careers of Renaissance artists. While biased towards Florentine artists, his work set the stage for modern art history, though many of his facts have been revised over time.