Today’s lesson focused on Giotto di Bondone, an influential Italian artist known for his work in tempera and fresco painting. Giotto’s art primarily depicted religious themes, such as the Madonna, Jesus, and the Apostles, and he was pivotal in advancing the study of iconography—the visual symbolism in art. His pioneering use of realism, particularly in depicting human anatomy and shading, marked a departure from previous artistic formulas, inspiring subsequent artists to create more lifelike representations.