"Giotto's masterpiece is a series of frescoes that decorate the wall of a small chapel in Padua, Italy. Working between 1305 and 1306, Giotto illustrated the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary on the Arena Chapel's walls. He used the fresco technique to fill the walls of the chapel with three powerful bands of paint. ""The Lamentation"" is one of the paintings in the series. The scene appears to be played out be a group of real people. The figures are in active, natural poses: leaning, holding, sitting, and bending. They are monumental and solid. The large folds in their robes suggest weight and mass. His use of shading creates a sense of roundness and natural light that comes from above outside the limits of the picture. Finally, a hint of natural landscape (not a gold background that was typical of the Medieval style) enhances the reality of the event."
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