The Vanishing Masterpieces of Giorgione

While Giorgione was a central figure of the Italian Renaissance, barely six paintings can be definitively attributed to him today. His work is so rare that his legacy remains a massive historical puzzle.

Because Giorgione died young from the plague, he left behind very little documented evidence of his life and career. This scarcity has made scholars argue for centuries over which works belong to him and which were created by his students. His painting of The Judgment of Solomon is one of the few surviving pieces that experts feel confident linking to his unique style. Despite his limited body of work, his influence on color and atmosphere changed the future of painting forever.