Stefaneschi Altarpiece

The Stefaneschi Altarpiece is a work by Giotto di Bondone, an influential Italian painter of the 14th century. While not all of Giotto's works are definitively attributed, the Stefaneschi Altarpiece is believed to be one of his Roman period commissions, likely created for Cardinal Stefaneschi, who also commissioned Giotto's Navicella mosaic. The altarpiece is noted for its quality, though some scholars suggest it may be a "school piece" bearing Giotto's trademark rather than entirely by his hand, a common issue with attributions due to limited documentation from his life. Giotto is celebrated for his innovations in painting, moving away from medieval stylization towards greater realism and emotional depth in his figures, which significantly influenced the development of Renaissance art.12