Background
Paolo Veneziano was born about 1300 to a family of artists.
Paolo Veneziano was born about 1300 to a family of artists.
He operated a large workshop in which he worked together with his sons Marco, Luca, and Giovanni. He was the official painter of Andrea Dandolo, for whom he and his sons Luca and Giovanni painted the Pala Feriale or “weekday altarpiece”, of the St Mark's Basilica in Venice.
Paolo was in the past identified with the artist responsible for the works attributed to the Master of the Washington Coronation. There is no longer unanimity among art historians regarding this identification.
Paolo's style was indebted to Byzantine influences but also betrays a knowledge of contemporary painting in Rimini. His more advanced works show the influence of gothic art.
Through his art he was the founder of the Venetian school which would exert its influence throughout the 14th century and in particular on Lorenzo Veneziano.
