Without Giorgio Vasari’s life work we would not have the insight into the art scene of the Renaissance that we have today. In fact, it is accepted that it was Vasari who first used the term ‘Renaissance’ and also the reference to ‘Gothic’. It can be said that he was the first art historian, writing the biographies of hundreds of known artists, gathering information on their lives and their works in his volumes of:

‘Le Vite de’ più eccellenti pittori, scultori e architettori. ‘The Lives of the most excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects’.  The work is often referred to as ‘Le Vite’ or ‘The Lives’. It begins with the evolution of Italian art from Giotto and continues through to Michelangelo Buonarroti.