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Author's biography |
Sienese painter. Nothing is known for certain of his life and no documented works survive, but he was probably the leading Sienese painter of the period. Ghiberti's "Commentarii" associated him with frescoes in the Collegiata at S. Gimignano, and the series on The Life of Christ there (c. 1350-55) is the core around which his work has been reconstructed. As with Simone Martini (traditionally Barna's master) and Lippo Memmei, drawing plays a predominant part in his work; where their line is a graceful arabesque, however, Barna's is direct and thrusting, his figures having a more dramatic vigour than any in previous Sienese painting. Other works given to Barna include Christ Carrying the Cross in the Frick Collection, New York. According to Vasari he was killed in a fall from the scaffolding while painting them. |
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