in italy, around 1300 ad, the artist giotto painted frescoes that were so full of life that people were amazed. each picture was like looking onto a stage where real people told the story. this was the beginning of the period of art history called the renaissance. giotto's frescoes became so famous that he had many pupils and followers. giotto's most famous frescoes are in the arena chapel in padua. he also painted in the church of st. francis at assisi and at santa croce (church of the holy cross) in florence.