Guido di Pietro was born about the year 1395 in Rupecanino, near Fiesole. By 1423 he had joined the observant branch of the Dominican Order and was known as Fra Giovanni (Brother John).

He was already an established painter before becoming a Dominican. He is known to have spent some time in the Dominican priories of Cortona and Fiesole before joining the new priory of San Marco in Florence.

His many frescoes in the cells (friars' rooms) of St Marks’s priory, as well as in other parts of the building, are exceptionally well known. The Popes also commissioned some of his work for the Vatican.

He died in on 18th February 1455 while in the eternal city, and was buried in the Dominican Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. He was beatified in 1983. His feast day is 18th February.