The Renaissance period was full of versatile artists who would apply their creative skills into a variety of different mediums. Architecture was a popular choice within that, with a steady stream of work available in building up a number of grand cities across the Papal States of Italy. Many of these architectural plans would never be implemented, with many projects disbanded due to financial issues or simply changing tastes.
Famous artistic names from the Renaissance would also sometimes be pitted against each other with only the winning designs being put into practice. Even the great Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci would produce architectural work that lost out to others during their careers, normally due to their technical knowledge being spread more thinly across many art forms rather than being specific specialists in architecture.
Giotto, having been nominated as Capomaestro, was able to play the roles of both designer and patron. Whilst ensuring that he could approve his own work, this position arrived too late in his life to make quite the impact that he might have liked to in this medium. As such, he is still predominantly thought of as, first and foremost, a painter. Architecture developed considerably during the 14th to 17th centuries, taking what had gone on previously in the Gothic period and reviving some elements of ancient style. Florence, particularly thanks to the efforts of Filippo Brunelleschi, would prove to be the central point from where influence would be later felt right across Europe.
Therefore, for Giotto to be involved with the Duomo and its accompanying Campanile underlines just how exceptional an architect he was. Renaissance archtecture brought in a clearer planning of perspective and design, combining elements of Greek and Roman features with a more consistent method of planning than had been seen in medieval buildings. The result of this would aesthetically pleasing structures that would also stand the test of time.
