The story of early Italian painting

Explore the story of painting as we step into the world of medieval Italy. Witness the birth of a new artistic language that bridged Byzantine traditions with Northern European art.

This tour focuses on the groundbreaking achievements of Duccio and Giotto who represented in their art a greater naturalism and emotional expression.

Through paintings of the 13th and 14th centuries in the Sainsbury Wing, join us to discover how these artists laid the foundations for the Renaissance and transformed the visual culture of Europe.

Maurizio Patti is originally from Cortona, Italy. He studied as an interpreter and continued with a second university degree in Languages and Visual Arts in Siena (with Honours). He worked as teacher, interpreter and guide in Italy until 1990, when he settled in London. He then qualified as a Blue Badge Guide and City Guide. He received a third university degree in Philosophy and Theology at the University of Louvain (Belgium) London campus. He attended visual arts courses at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Gallery and City Lit. He has become an Art Expert for Tate Galleries. Alongside his guiding, he is also tutoring and lecturing for the Tate Galleries and the Institute of Tourist Guiding (History of Art). He guides in English, Italian, French and Spanish.