The Italian painter Cimabue (active last quarter of 13th century) worked in an Italo-Byzantine style characterized by a vigor and vivacity that set it apart from the more conventional art of his times and anticipated the more natural style of the 14th century.

Cimabue whose given name was Cenno de' Pepi, was probably born before 1250. The earliest document associated with him dates from June 8, 1272. The only other documented phase of Cimabue's life relates to his apse mosaic, St. John the Evangelist, in the Pisa Cathedral, dated 1301-1302. He died sometime after mid-1302.

Some hint of Cimabue's personality comes from literary sources. Dante mentioned Cimabue in the Divine Comedy but was more concerned with the moral lesson to be taught about the transitory nature of fame than with Cimabue's character: "Once, Cimabue thought to hold the field/ In painting; Giotto's all the rage today;/ The other's fame lies in...