Who was the first to break with the artistic tradition of the Middle Ages and one of the first to use the fresco technique in painting?

The first to break with the artistic tradition of the Middle Ages and one of the pioneers of the fresco technique was Giotto di Bondone. Active in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, Giotto's work introduced more naturalism and emotional expression, moving away from the flat, abstract styles typical of medieval art. His frescoes, particularly in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, marked a significant shift towards the Renaissance style.