Domenico Ghirlandaio was one of the leading painters of late 15th-century Florence, renowned for his large fresco cycles, lucid narrative style, and vivid portrayal of contemporary Florentine society within sacred scenes.

Born Domenico di Tommaso Bigordi in Florence, he trained in the workshop tradition that shaped Quattrocento art and developed a reputation for clarity of design, balanced composition, and carefully observed detail. His nickname Ghirlandaio (“maker of garlands”) probably derived from his father’s trade as a goldsmith.

Ghirlandaio’s art reflects the intellectual and civic culture of Medicean Florence. His frescoes often integrate portraits of patrons and notable citizens into biblical narratives, effectively transforming sacred history into a mirror of contemporary urban life. This documentary quality makes his work an invaluable visual record of late 15th-century costume, architecture, and social hierarchy.

Among his most celebrated works are the frescoes of the Sassetti Chapel in Santa Trinita, Florence, the Tornabuoni Chapel in Santa Maria Novella, and the Last Supper in the refectory of Ognissanti. His workshop was large and productive, involving his brothers Davide and Benedetto Ghirlandaio and numerous assistants. Around 1488–1490, the young Michelangelo briefly trained in his workshop.

Ghirlandaio’s style is marked by firm drawing, clear spatial organisation, restrained yet harmonious colour, and an emphasis on dignified human presence. He stands at the culmination of Florentine narrative fresco painting before the High Renaissance.