GIOVANNETTI, Matteo (Gianetti, Matteo di Giovannetto). — Painter, born in Viterbo, active between 1343 and 1366 in the Papal Palace in Avignon (v.) under the influence of the painting of Simone Martini, who had preceded him at the papal court and who died in Avignon in 1344.
On 18 November 1353 the painter undertook to paint in the Hall of Audience of the Avignonese Palace twenty life-size figures of prophets and sibyls against a blue background. Also in Avignon the painter signed frescoes in the chapel of St Martial with scenes from the life of the Saint. In St John’s there are other frescoes assigned to him with scenes from the life of the Baptist. He also painted frescoes with scenes from the life of the Baptist in the charterhouse of Villeneuve-les-Avignon. Other works by him are in the Museum of Viterbo, where a small altarpiece is assigned to him, and in the Stocklet collection in Brussels, where there is a polyptych by him.