Artist 46: Masaccio

Masaccio was born in 1401 in Italy and was apart of the Italian Renaissance. He was a very important artist because he was the first to use linear perspective. This is evident in one of his great works, "Holy Trinity," in which Christ is seen hanging from the cross, a figure behind him, possibly meant to be God, taking his son up to Heaven. Underneath Christ is the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist. Next to those figures are the patron of the painting and his wife. Underneath all of the figures, at the bottom of the painting is a skeleton, a reference to Adam, the inscription by him says, "I once was what you are now; what I am you shall be." The hall behind the Christ stretches back into the distance, revealing the massive structure they are in. As said before, he was the first to use linear perspective, and this is 1 point linear perspective. Masaccio is inspiring because he was the first to do something. It is very difficult to become the first to do something, especially now, since so much has already been done. But it is possible that is what he felt before he used linear perspective, and I might be the first to do something myself if I really put my mind and soul into it.