How did Masaccio’s figures differ from the elegant style of Lorenzo Monaco and Gentile da Fabriano?

Masaccio’s figures differed significantly from the elegant, courtly style of Lorenzo Monaco and Gentile da Fabriano by prioritizing austere realism over decorative artifice.12

While Gentile da Fabriano’s work is characterized by delicate linearity, vibrant colors, and figures adorned in rich velvets and brocades, Masaccio rejected such ornamental exoticism. Similarly, as Lorenzo Monaco aged, he increasingly favored mannered, elongated figures and fantastical landscapes. In contrast, Masaccio’s approach was defined by:13

• Weight and Solidity: Masaccio treated the human figure with a sense of dignity and physical presence, utilizing chiaroscuro and simple drapery to create the illusion of three-dimensional, solid bodies.24
• Rationality and Humanism: Rather than presenting figures as ethereal or regally clad icons, Masaccio depicted them as humans engaged in purposeful activity, emphasizing individual emotional reactions.4
• Spatial Integration: He utilized perspective and consistent light sources to place his figures within a clear, rational space that mirrors the real world, rather than the arbitrary or gold-ground backgrounds typical of the International Gothic style.524