Zorzi (Giorgio) da Castelfranco (1477? - no later than November 1510), known as Zorzon (Giorgione) - 'Big George' - is a painter whose importance is accepted by all critics, but whose life is minimally documented, and whose work remains subject to controversy. He died young, according to Vasari from the plague caught on one of his regular visits to a lady friend ( Vasari, Le Vite, Testo IV.47).
He was said by Vasari to have been a pupil of Giovanni Bellini, and the altarpiece at Castelfranco shows clearly the influence of Bellini. He is also said by Vasari to have been dissatisfied with the style of Bellini. Vasari suggests that he was a revolutionary (see Vasari on Giorgione). Reynolds agrees. Discourse Eleven, 1782, by Reynolds points to the difference between the detail of Bellini, and the 'complete effect' of Titian ( Reynolds, Discourses, p. 195). Giorgione initiated this change.
Detailed evidence for Giorgione's life and work is transcribed in Pignatti, Giorgione, and Pignatti points the paradoxical lack of information about Giorgione, a painter universally agreed to be of major importance. Ruskin praises Giorgione highly, but Ruskin's knowledge of Giorgione's work seems to provide a limited basis for his conclusions. There is little detailed examination even of works that Ruskin considered to be by Giorgione.