Domenico di Tommaso Curradi di Doffo Bigordi (1448 – 1494), known as Il Ghirlandaio (“garland-maker”) was an Italian Renaissance Portraitist.
He was a master of fresco painting during the Italian Renaissance, renowned for his vivid storytelling and lifelike portraits. Originally trained as a goldsmith in his father’s workshop, he transitioned to painting under Alessio Baldovinetti, developing a style that combined architectural precision with human warmth.
Ghirlandaio’s frescoes were executed in buon fresco technique, admired for their clarity, realism, and elaborate perspective—often designed by eye alone. His portraits captured the social elite of Florence, blending sacred themes with contemporary life. Though his tempera paintings were sometimes criticized for their brightness, his frescoes remain celebrated.
He was also a mentor to Michelangelo, influencing the trajectory of Renaissance art. Ghirlandaio died of fever in 1494, leaving behind a family of artists, including his son Ridolfo.
