GIOVANNETTI, MATTEO (GIANETTI, MATTEO di GIOVANETTO). - Painter, born in Viterbo, active between 1343 and 1366 in the Palace of the Popes in Avignon (v.) under the influence of the painting of Simone Martini, who had preceded him at the papal court and died in Avignon in 1344.
On 18 Nov. 1353 the painter undertook to paint in the Hall of Audiences of the Avignon Palace 20 life-size figures of prophets and sibyls against a blue background. Also in Avignon the painter signed frescoes in the chapel of S. Marziale depicting episodes from the life of the Saint. In S. Giovanni there are other frescoes attributed to him, with scenes from the life of the Baptist. He also painted frescoes with episodes from the life of the Baptist in the Carthusian monastery of Villeneuvees-Avignon. Other works by him are in the Museum of Viterbo, where a small altarpiece is attributed to him, and in the Stocklet collection in Brussels, which possesses one of his polyptychs.