The Riminese school of the 14th century (the Trecento)

In the early 1300s, Giotto visited Rimini and stayed there before travelling to Padua where he was to paint the Scrovegni Chapel.
During his stay in Rimini, he painted some frescoes which are lost as well as a Crucifixion scene that today is found in the "Tempio Malatestiano" church.

 

His stay had a strong impact on the local painters, and the influence lasted until at least the middle of the century: the result was the so-called Riminese school.
The main representatives of this period are Giovanni and Pietro da Rimini.
The Crucifixion scene by Giovanni da Rimini in the church of St. Franceso di Mercatello sul Metauro (province of Pesaro-Urbino) is obviously inspired by Giotto and, since the date 1309 for the painting is definite, it is likely that Giotto’s Riminese sojourn was no later than that year.

 

The new elements introduced by Giotto were immediately echoed in the work of artists in the Romagna in general. Vasari himself was one of the most faithful followers of Giotto, together with Ottaviano da Faenza and Guglielmo da Forli.

 

At the Louvre museum in Paris, there is a painting called Deposizione (1320-1325) by Pietro da Rimini.
He also painted the new versions of the frescoes for the Crucifixion and Apostle scenes (about 1330) in the church of San Pietro in Sylvis in Bagnacavallo (province of Ravenna).
Other masters of the school are Neri da Rimini, Giuliano da Rimini and Giovanni Baronzio who worked in a style inspired by Giotto as well as influenced by local and Bolognese styles.

The school brought forth some great masterpieces, also in miniature painting.
After 1350, there are no more examples of outstanding works from this school.

 

Where to find evidence of the Trecento in the province of Rimini:

• Tempio Malatestiano, Rimini cathedral. Crucifixion by Giotto
• Church of San Lorenzo, Talamello. Crucifixion by Giovanni da Rimini
• Franciscan convent, Villa Verucchio. Fresco with Crucifixion scene (unknown painter)
• Collegiate church, Santarcangelo di Romagna. Panel painting of the Crucifixion (perhaps by Pietro da Rimini)
• Collegiate church, Verucchio. Crucifixion scene painted on board (panel painting) in the presbytery (by an unknown Riminese painter from the first half of the 14th century called “Maestro di Verucchio”).