Paolo Veneziano

Paolo Veneziano is considered one of the first distinctive Venetian painters and was the official painter of the Republic. He was one of the most sought-after and prolific panel painters of fourteenth-century Italy and influence on younger Venetian painters was wide. Paolo's work, like that of other Venetians, was influenced by the cultures of the Middle East, Greece, and Byzantium. His works, in contrast to those of his Tuscan peers, are rich, luxurious webs of colors and lines. Paolo was a member of a family of painters; he operated a large workshop and collaborated closely with his sons. He was possibly also an illuminator. (source: Getty ULAN)