How did Masaccio’s style differ from Masolino’s style in the Brancacci Chapel?

In the Brancacci Chapel, the stylistic differences between Masaccio and Masolino are distinct and reflect their differing artistic approaches.

Masolino’s style is characterized by figures that are dainty, wiry, and elegant, often maintaining a connection to the International Gothic tradition. In contrast, Masaccio’s work is highly dramatic, expansive, and volumetric.12

Masaccio’s approach marked a decisive break from the conventions of the Middle Ages. While Masolino’s work often leaned toward a more decorative and lyrical quality, Masaccio focused on creating anatomically convincing figures set within a controlled, realistic space. He utilized a consistent fall of light and strongly differentiated areas of light and dark to create a powerful illusion of three-dimensionality, treating the painting as a window into a continuation of the real world governed by the laws of perspective.1