Early life Masaccio was born to Giovanni di Simone Cassai and Jacopa di Martinozzo in Castel San Giovanni di Altura, now San Giovanni Valdarno (today part of the province of Arezzo, Tuscany).John T. Spike, Masaccio, New York: 1996, 21–64, and Diane Cole Ahl, The Cambridge Companion to Masaccio, Cambridge, 2002, 3–5. His father was a notary and his mother the daughter of an innkeeper of Barberino di Mugello, a town a few miles north of Florence. His family name, Cassai, comes from the trade of his paternal grandfather Simone and granduncle Lorenzo, who were carpenters/cabinet makers (casse, hence cassai). Masaccio's father died in 1406, when he was only five; later that same year a brother was born, named Giovanni (1406–1486) after his father. He also was to become a painter, with the nickname of Lo Scheggia meaning "the splinter".On Giovanni's career, see Luciano Bellosi and Margaret Haines, Lo Scheggia, Florence, 1999. In 1412 Monna Jacopa married an elderly apothecary, Tedesco di maestro Feo, who already had several daughters, one of whom grew up to marry the only other documented painter from Castel San Giovanni, Mariotto di Cristofano (1393–1457).
early life masaccio was born to giovanni di simone cassai and jacopa di martinozzo in castel san giovanni di altura now san giovanni valdarno (today part of the province of arezzo tuscany)john t spike masaccio new york 1996 21–64 and diane cole ahl the cambridge companion to masaccio cambridge 2002 3–5 his father was a notary and his mother the daughter of an innkeeper of barberino di mugello a town a few miles north of florence his family name cassai comes from the trade of his paternal grandfather simone and granduncle lorenzo who were carpenters/cabinet makers (casse hence cassai) masaccio's father died in 1406 when he was only five; later that same year a brother was born named giovanni (1406–1486) after his father he also was to become a painter with the nickname of lo scheggia meaning "the splinter"on giovanni's career see luciano bellosi and margaret haines lo scheggia florence 1999 in 1412 monna jacopa married an elderly apothecary tedesco di maestro feo who already had several daughters one of whom grew up to marry the only other documented painter from castel san giovanni mariotto di cristofano (1393–1457)