AGO's REVEALING THE EARLY RENAISSANCE to Open March 16

According to Suda, "the invention of a lending economy and the standardization of currency in 14th-century Florence brought about a new era of unprecedented wealth, which changed artistic practices forever. This exhibition will make it clear that the diverse techniques of Giotto and his contemporaries paved the way for generations of Italian masters to come, fuelling a passion for art and elevating it to the next level. These were truly the first Renaissance men!"

Daily guided tours will give visitors insight into the history and symbolism of the art works in the exhibition every Tuesday through Friday at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., and on weekends at 11 a.m.

Visitors to the gallery are encouraged to explore the AGO Renaissance Trail to discover the Early Renaissance treasures in the AGO's Permanent Collection. Tours run daily at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. starting from Walker Court.

FRANK restaurant celebrates the birth of the Renaissance with a tribute to Italian cuisine. Italian-inspired prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus will be available starting March 16, 2013, for $35 and $45. Additionally, a selection of Italian wines, beers, pastas and gelato will join the regular FRANK menu. The following dining and exhibition packages will also be available:

• $65 ticket (including tax); includes admission to the exhibition and a prix-fixe dinner
• $30 ticket (including tax); includes admission to the exhibition and a voucher for caféAGO

Additionally, the Espresso Bar in Galleria Italia offers a range of gelato and Italian homemade sodas, alongside a variety of coffees, teas and liqueurs and breathtaking views of the city.

shopAGO celebrates the arrival of Revealing the Early Renaissance: Stories and Secrets in Florentine Art with an exciting collection of souvenir treasures, kitchenwares and accessories. Replicas of Daddi's panels are available for purchase, along with ornate photo frames, water carafes, tumblers and wine decanters.

Edited by Christine Sciacca with contributions by Sasha Suda, the 448 page exhibition catalogue Florence at the Dawn of the Renaissance: Painting and Illumination, 1300-1350 features 240 colour illustrations. It is available for purchase at shopAGO for $79.95. Visit shopAGO online or call 416-979-6610 for more information.

Revealing the Early Renaissance: Stories and Secrets in Florentine Art is co-organized by the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario.