art history Art history is the study of Work of art, artistic works made throughout human history. Among other topics, it studies art’s formal qualities, its impact on societies and cultures, and how artistic styles have changed throughout history. Tradit ...

, an anonymous master is an

Old Master In art history, "Old Master" (or "old master")Old Masters De ...

whose work is known, but whose name is lost.

Renaissance

Only in the Renaissance did individual artists in Western Europe acquire personalities known by their peers (some listed by

Vasari Giorgio Vasari (30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574) was an Italian Renaissance painter, architect, art historian, and biographer who is best known for his work '' Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects'', considered the ide ...

in his ''

Lives of the Artists ''The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects'' () is a series of artist biographies written by 16th-century Italian painter and architect Giorgio Vasari, which is considered "perhaps the most famous, and even today the ...

''), such as those known by: * Their true name or their father's name: **

Filippino Lippi Filippino Lippi (probably 1457 – 18 April 1504) was an Italian Renaissance painter mostly working in Florence, Italy during the later years of the Early Renaissance and first few years of the High Renaissance. He also worked in Rome for a ...

after his father

Fra Filippo Lippi Filippo Lippi ( – 8 October 1469), also known as Lippo Lippi, was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Quattrocento (fifteenth century) and a Carmelite priest. He was an early Renaissance master of a painting workshop, who taught many paint ...

* A chosen

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

, possibly linked to his birthplace or his father's trade: **

Giuliano da Sangallo Giuliano da Sangallo (c. 1445 – 1516) was an Italian sculptor, architect and military engineer active during the Italian Renaissance. He is known primarily for being the favored architect of Lorenzo de' Medici, his patron. In this role, Giuli ...

worked on the gate of Saint Gall **

Antonio del Pollaiuolo Antonio del Pollaiuolo ( , , ; 17 January 1429/14334 February 1498), also known as Antonio di Jacopo Pollaiuolo or Antonio Pollaiuolo (also spelled Pollaiolo), was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, engraver, and goldsmith, who made ...

, after his father, a chicken farmer (pollo in Italian) ** Jacopo del Sellaio, after his father, a saddler (''sellier'') ** The Della Robbias (after the Tuscan word ''robbia'', dyers'

madder ''Rubia'' is the type genus of the Rubiaceae family of flowering plants, which also contains ''Coffea'' (coffee). It contains around 80 species of perennial scrambling or climbing herbs and subshrubs native to the Old World. The genus and it ...

, and his father, the dyer

Luca della Robbia Luca della Robbia (, also , ; 1399/1400–1482) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor from Florence. Della Robbia is noted for his colorful, tin-glazed terracotta statuary, a technique that he invented and passed on to his nephew Andrea della R ...

) ** Masuccio Segondo, student of Masuccio Primo ** etc. * A surname attributed to him: ** Il Cronaca, who never stopped talking about the ruins he had seen in Rome **

Daniele da Volterra Daniele Ricciarelli (; 15094 April 1566), better known as Daniele da Volterra (, ), was a Mannerism, Mannerist List of Italian painters, Italian painter and sculpture, sculptor. He is best remembered for his association with Michelangelo. Sev ...

, nicknamed ''Il Braghettone'' (the

breeches Breeches ( ) are an article of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. Formerly a standard item of Western men's ...

maker) for having censored nudes in paintings by adding cloths or branches, at the request of

Pope Paul IV Pope Paul IV (; ; 28 June 1476 – 18 August 1559), born Gian Pietro Carafa, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 May 1555 to his death, in August 1559. While serving as papal nuncio in Spain, he developed ...

, for the madder colour he used as a ceramicist **

Masaccio Masaccio (, ; ; December 21, 1401 – summer 1428), born Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, was a Florentine artist who is regarded as the first great List of Italian painters, Italian painter of the Quattrocento period of the Italian Renaiss ...

, known as the idiot ** etc. * A

corporation A corporation or body corporate is an individual or a group of people, such as an association or company, that has been authorized by the State (polity), state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law as ...

, whose generic name is given to works made by all its members: ** the Campionesi Masters, sculptors and builders of religious buildings (Ugo da Campione,

Bonino da Campione Bonino da Campione was an Italian sculptor in the Gothic style, active between 1350 and 1390. His name indicates that he was born in - or into a family originating in - Campione d'Italia, a Lombardy town in an enclave within Switzerland. His wor ...

, Giovanni da Campione, Zenone de Campione, Matteo da Campione)

20th-century problems of attribution

The idea of a named and recognised painter originated among art historians early in the 20th century, who were attributing works they recognised to known painters. They later went back on some of these attributions, renaming as anonymous the painters they had formerly named. One example is the case of

Pier Francesco Fiorentino Pier Francesco Fiorentino (1444/1445 – after 1497) was a 15th-century painter active in San Gimignano for much of his mature life, depicting religious-themed subjects. Biography Fiorentino was born in Florence, the son of the Florentine pa ...

, to whom

Bernard Berenson Bernard Berenson (June 26, 1865 – October 6, 1959) was an American art historian specializing in the Renaissance. His book ''The Drawings of the Florentine Painters'' was an international success. His wife Mary is thought to have had a large ...

attributed a number of works which were later re-attributed to

Pseudo Pier Francesco Fiorentino Pier Francesco Fiorentino (1444/1445 – after 1497) was a 15th-century painter active in San Gimignano for much of his mature life, depicting religious-themed subjects. Biography Fiorentino was born in Florence, the son of the Florentine pai ...

, a Florence copyist. Some painters have even been described as anonymous (even many times like

Barthélemy Eyck Barthélemy, or Barthélémy is a French name, a cognate of Bartholomew. Notable people with this name include: Given name * Barthélemy (explorer), French youth who accompanied the explorer de La Salle in 1687 * Barthélémy Bisengimana, Con ...

) before later being recognised. They thus held several names historically (those who are noted on the page devoted to them), although doubts continue surrounding some, such as Giovanni Gaddi (after 1333 – 1383) maybe the ''Master of the Misericordia dell’Accademia''.

Artists

Dates

Master of 1302 The so-called Master of 1302 () was an Italian painter active in Emilia in the first half of the 14th century. His works were basically Gothic in style, with modernized touches; his name comes from a set of votive frescos painted for bishop ...

Master of 1310 The Master of 1310 was an Italian painter active in Pistoia at the end of the 13th into the beginning of the fourteenth century. His name is derived from an altarpiece depicting the ''Madonna and Child with Angels and the Commandant Filippo Paci' ...

* Master of 1328 * Master of 1342 * Master of 1499 * Master of the 1540s

A

* Master of Alkmaar * Master of Ambrass *

Master of Amiens Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...

* Master of the Antiphonal Q of San Giorgio Maggiore * Master of Antoine de Bourgogne * Master of Arguis * Master of Ávila * Master of the Altarpiece of the Ten Commandments * Master of the Aquisgrana Altarpiece * Master of the Annunciation to the Shepherds * Master of Astorga * Master of the Assisi Choirbooks

B

* Master of Badia a Isola *

Master of the Bamberg Altar The Master of the Bamberg Altar (''floruit, fl.'' 1420–1440) was a German painter active in the Nuremberg area. His name is derived from an altarpiece depicting scenes from the Passion (Christianity), Passion, painted in 1429 for the Francisc ...

* Master of the Bardi Saint Francis * Becerril Master *

Bedford Master The Bedford Master was a manuscript illuminator active in Paris during the fifteenth century. He is named for the work he did on two books illustrated for John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford between 1415 and 1435. One is the Bedford Hours ...

* Master of the Beighem Altarpiece * Master of the Berswordt Altar * First Master of the Bible Historiale of Jean de Berry * Bigallo Master *

Master of the Blue Crucifixes The Master of the Blue Crucifixes was an Italian artist active either in the region of Umbria or Emilia during the middle of the thirteenth century. He is associated with the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, and may have been an assistant o ...

* Master of the Brunswick Diptych * Brunswick Monogrammist * Master of the Brussels Initials * Master of the Burgundian Prelates * Master of the Bützow Altarpiece * Byzantine Master of the Crucifix of Pisa

C

* Campionesi Masters * Chief Associate of the Bedford Master * City of Ladies Master and his studio of illuminators of ''

The Book of the City of Ladies ''The Book of the City of Ladies'', or ''Le Livre de la Cité des Dames'', is a book written by Christine de Pizan believed to have been finished by 1405. Perhaps Pizan's most famous literary work, it is her second work of lengthy prose. Pizan u ...

'' by Christine de Pisan * Master of Cabestany * Master of the Cappella di San Nicola * Master of the Cappella Medici Polyptych * Master of the Cassone degli Adimari, probably Lo Scheggia, brother of

* Master of the Cassoni Campana, builder of ''

cassone A cassone (plural ''cassoni'') or marriage chest is a rich and showy Italian type of chest, which may be inlaid or carved, prepared with gesso ground then painted and gilded. ''Pastiglia'' was decoration in low relief carved or moulded in ...

'' * Master of Castelsardo * Master of Castelseprio, fresco painter at Santa Maria Foris Portas at Castelseprio, in the

province of Varese The province of Varese () is a Provinces of Italy, province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Varese (population of 80,857 inhabitants), but its largest city is Busto Arsizio. The headquarters of AgustaWestland, the compa ...

. * Master of the Castello della Manta * Master of Crea * Master of the Cypresses

D

* Dipylon Master * Master of the Darmstädter Passion * Master of the Darup Altarpiece * Master of Delft * Masters of Dirc van Delf * Master of the Death of the Virgin (engraver) * Master of the Death of the Virgin (painter) *

Master of the Drapery Studies The Master of the Drapery Studies (), also known as Master of the Coburg Roundels () is the notname given to the "very productive" and "multifaceted" late 15th-century author of some 30 surviving paintings and over 150 surviving drawings. Indee ...

(also known as Master of the Coburg Roundels)

E

* Master of the Egmont Albums * Elmelunde Master * Master of the Embroidered Foliage * Master E. S. * Expressionist Master of Santa Chiara

F

* Master of the Female Half-Lengths * Master of the Franciscan Crucifixions (13th century) *

Master of Frankfurt The Master of Frankfurt (c. 1460–c. 1533) was a Flemish Renaissance painter active in Antwerp between about 1480 and 1520.Stephen H. Goddard, "Master of Frankfurt," '' Grove Art Online'', Oxford University Press ccessed 9 April 2008/ref>Kate ...

* Master of the Fresco of the Twelve Moons, north Italy, painter of a secular fresco of the late 14th century (1391–1407) at Trente, in a room of the ''Tower of Eagles'' of the Castello del Buonconsiglio. * Master of the Friedberg Altarpiece * Master of the Fröndenberger Altarpiece * Master of the Furies

G

* Master of the Gardens of Love * Master of the Gardner Annunciation * Master of the Gerona Martyrology * Master of the Golden Altar * Master of the Graudenz Altarpiece * Master of the Greenville Tondo * Master of the Grigg Crucifixion * Master of the Gubbio Cross

H

* Master of the Hallein Altar * Master of Heiligenkreuz * Master of the Heisterbach Altarpiece * Master of the High Altar of Szmrecsány * Master of Hohenfurth, an alternate name for the Master of Vyšší Brod * Master of the Housebook

I

* Master I. A. M. of Zwolle * Illustratore * Master of the Imhoff Altar * Isaac Master * Master of the Iserlohn Altarpiece

J

* Master of James IV of Scotland * Master of Jannecke Bollengier * Master of Jánosrét

K

* Kirchdorf Master * Master of the Karlsruhe Passion * Master of the Khanenko Adoration

L

* Master of the Legend of the Magdalen *

Master of the (Bruges) legend of St. Ursula The Master of the Legend of St. Ursula (1436–1505) was a Flanders, Flemish painter active in the fifteenth century. His Notname, name is derived from a polyptych depicting scenes from the life of Saint Ursula painted for the convent of the B ...

, Flemish, 15th century * Master of the Legend of Saint Lucy * Master of the Legend of the Holy Mother * Master of the Libro di casa * Master of the Lippborg Passion * Master of the Litoměřice Altarpiece * Master of the Llangattock Epiphany * Master of the Llangattock Hours *

Master of the Lübeck Bible Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...

* Master of the Ludlow Annunciation

M

* Master of the Malchin Altar * Master of Magione * Master of the Marble Madonnas * Master of Meßkirch * Master of the Mesi * Master of the Mornauer Portrait

N

* Master of the Louvre Nativity, probably Fra Diamante (according to

) * Naumburg Master, mid-13th-century sculptor * Master of Nördlingen * Northern Master

O

* Master of the Osservanza, Sienna school, 15th century * Oltremontano Master * Master of the Ortenberg Altarpiece * Master of Otto van Moerdrecht (active –30); Netherlandish illuminator * Master of Ozieri

P

* Master of the Pähl Altarpiece * Master of the Pallant Altarpiece * Master of Panzano * Master of the Parement * Master of the Perkins Saint Paul * Master of the Playing Cards * Master of the Poldi-Pezzoli Diptychon *

Master of the Prayer Books of around 1500 The Master of the Prayer Books of around 1500 was a Flemish painter of illuminated manuscripts and miniatures active in Bruges from about 1485 until around 1520. His name is derived from a collection of devotional manuscripts from the same arti ...

* Master of the Predella * Master of the Nicolas Puchner Altarpiece

R

* Master of the Rajhrad Altarpiece * Master of the Re Alberto Altarpiece * Master of the Rebel Angels, ''Maestro degli Angeli Ribelli'' of Siena; two paintings are in the

musée du Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located on the Rive Droite, Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement of Paris, 1st arron ...

* Master of the Regular Canons' Altarpiece * Master of the

Rohan Hours The Grandes Heures de Rohan (French: ''The Grand Hours of Rohan''; Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, MS. Latin 9471; commonly known as The Rohan Hours) is an illuminated manuscript book of hours, painted by the anonymous artist known as the Rohan M ...

S

* Master of the Saint Augustine Altarpiece * Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece * Master of Saint Cecilia * Master of Saint Francis * Master of Saint Giles * Master of Saint Veronica,

Cologne Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...

, active to 1420 *

Master of Salzburg Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...

* Master of the Saint Lambrecht Votive Altarpiece * Master of the San Bartolomeo Altarpiece * Master of the San Giorgio Altarpiece * Master of San Martino alla Palma * Master of San Severino * Master of the Santa Barbara Altarpiece * Master of Schloss Lichtenstein * Master of the Schotten Altarpiece * Master of the Schöppingen Altarpiece *

Master of Signa The Master of Signa refers to an anonymous 15th-century Italian painter active in the area of Signa, region of Tuscany, Italy. References External links Signa Signa () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Floren ...

* Master of the St. Louis Madonna * Master of the Staufen Altarpiece * Master of the Stauffenberg Altarpiece * Master of the Sterbini Diptych

T

* Master of the Tavole Barberini * Master of the Tennenbach Altar * Master of the Terni Dormition *

Master of the Třeboň Altarpiece __NOTOC__ The Master of the Třeboň Altarpiece () was a Bohemian painter active in Prague around 1380–1390. His name is derived from the Třeboň Altarpiece from the church of Saint Eligius at the Augustinian convent of Třeboň (known in Ger ...

* Master of Trognano * Master of the Tucher Altarpiece

U

* Union Master * Upper Rhenish Master (also known as ''Master of the Frankfurt Paradiesgärtlein'')

V

* Master of the Vienna Adoration * Master of the Vienna ''Chroniques d'Angleterre'' * Master of Vignola * Master of the Virgo inter Virgines * Master of Vyšší Brod

W

* Master W. B. * Master W with the Key * Master of the Washington Coronation * Master of Wavrin * Master of the Weibermacht

Z

* Master of Zweder van Culemborg

Artists whose names have since been established

In recent years the names of a variety of artists who were formerly listed as "anonymous" have become known; accordingly scholarly writings and museum labels have been changed to reflect their new identities. Much the most famous of these is the Master of Flémalle (c 1378–1445), painter of the comté de Hainaut, who was established as

Robert Campin Robert Campin (Valenciennes (France) c. 1375 - Tournai (Belgium) 26 April 1444) now usually identified with the Master of Flémalle (earlier the Master of the Merode Triptych, before the discovery of three other similar panels), was a master pai ...

. Other examples include: * Jehan Bellegambe, sometimes called the "master of colours". * Master of 1419 – recognised as Battista di Biagio Sanguigni, having painted and dated in 1419 the central panel for a triptych executed for Santa Maria a Latera, broken up and dispersed * Master of the Chiostro degli Aranci – recognised as being Giovanni Consalvo, fresco painter at the monastery at Badia Fiorentina *

Barthélemy d'Eyck Barthélemy d'Eyck, van Eyck or d' Eyck ( 1420 – after 1470), was an Early Netherlandish artist who worked in France and probably in Duchy of Burgundy, Burgundy as a painter and manuscript illuminator. He was active between about 1440 to about ...

is the generally accepted as the painter known as the Master of the Aix Annunciation for paintings, and the Master of René of Anjou for illuminated manuscripts; he is also thought by many to be the Master of the Shadows * The Dombild Master, as

Stefan Lochner Stefan Lochner (the ''Dombild Master'' or ''Master Stefan''; c. 1410 – late 1451) was a German painter working in the late International Gothic period. His paintings combine that era's tendency toward long flowing lines and brilliant colours ...

Notes

Sources

* Daniel Arasse in the introduction to his ''Le Sujet dans le tableau''. Champs Flammarion (1997) (2006) {{DEFAULTSORT:Anonymous Masters * History of art