The Shadowed Realism of Puccio di Simone Puccio di Simone, a name whispered among connoisseurs of early Renaissance art, remains an elusive figure despite the potent emotional resonance of his work. Born in Florence around 1320, and passing away circa 1362, his life is shrouded in the mists of medieval record, known more through surviving paintings than documented biography. He wasn’t a master celebrated with extensive workshop records or patron commissions like Giotto; instead, Puccio carved out a unique space for himself, painting primarily altarpieces and devotional panels that betray a p…