Although Andrea del Castagno (1419-1457) was one of the most original painters of fifteenth-century Florence, his art was largely neglected for five centuries. Only after his works were exhibited in Florence in 1954 alongside those of Masaccio, Uccello, and Piero della Francesca under the title "Quattro Maestri del Primo Rinascimento" was their outstanding quality rediscovered. In his relatively short life, Castagno completed more than twenty works, most of them frescoes. They bear witness to his masterful composition, his highly individual choice of color, and his excellent draftsmanship. It was perhaps for his draftsmanship that Castagno was most renowned during his lifetime, and this reputation was dramatically reasserted by the exhibition "The Great Age of Fresco: Giotto to Pontormo," which toured nine countries in the Americas and Europe from 1968-1970 and attracted a million visitors. In this comprehensive study Marita Horster gives an account of the artist's life and examines his works in detail. She provides transcriptions of documents relating to Castagno's life and work, and quotes Vasari's biography in full, in the original Italian. She also lists painters connected with Castagno and describes his influence on pupils, contemporaries, and followers. A complete critical catalog, including lost works and rejected attributions, follows her introductory essay. All of the extant works are illustrated, and the striking use of details brings out the grace and subtlety of Castagno's lines. Some works mistakenly attributed to Castagno are also reproduced, along with comparative works by other artists. The first full study of Castagno to appear in English, this lavishly illustrated volume will delight anyone interested in Italian or Renaissance art. -- Inside jacket flaps.