Degli Angeli, at Florence, where it is kept in the cell of the prior, together with a most exquisite picture by Raphael, as a rare and valuable relic of the master.[1]
A chapel and four pictures were painted by Giotto, for the fraternity of the Umiliati d’Ognissanti, in Florence ; among these works, is a figure of the Virgin, surrounded by angels, and holding the child in her arms, with a large crucifix on panel,[2] the design of which last being taken by Puccio Capanna, he executed great numbers in the same manner (having intimate knowledge of Giotto’s method), which were afterwards scattered through all Italy. When this book of the Lives of the Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, was first published, there was a small picture in distemper, in the transept of the church belonging to the Umiliati, which had been painted by Giotto with infinite care. The subject was the death of the Virgin, with the Apostles around her, and with the figure of Christ, who receives her soul into his arms. This work has been greatly prized by artists, and was above all valued by Michael Angelo Buonarotti, who declared, as we have said before, that nothing in painting could be nearer to the life than this was, and it rose still higher in the general estimation after these Lives had appeared ; but has since been carried away from the church, perhaps from love of art and respect to the work, which may have seemed to the robber to be not sufficiently reverenced, who thus out of piety became impious, as our poet saith.[3] It may with truth be called a miracle, that Giotto attained to so great an excellence of manner, more particu-
- ↑ Nothing is now known of this work.
- ↑ This crucifix still remains ; it may be seen on the wall of the chapel belonging to the Gondi-Dini family. The picture of the Virgin with the Child and Angels, was removed to the Gallery of the Florentine Academy.
- ↑ Dante, Paradiso,—
“Come Almeone, che di cio pregato
Dal padre suo la propria madre spense.
Per non perder pietà, si fè spietato.”
“E’en as Alemaeon, at his father’s suit,
Slew his own mother ; so made pitiless,
Not to lose pity.” —Cary.This picture reappeared at a later period, and after various vicissitudes, became the property of Mr. N. Ottley, where I (Schorn) saw it in 1826.
