finished ; but which was continued after his death by Taddeo Gaddi. While this undertaking was in progress, Giotto painted a picture for the nuns of San Giorgio,[1] and in the abbey of Florence, within the church, and on an arch over the door, he executed three half-length figures, which were afterwards whitewashed over, to give more light to the church. In the great hall of the Podesta in Florence, Giotto painted a picture, the idea of which was afterwards frequently borrowed. In this he represented the Commune seated, in the character of a judge, with a sceptre in the hand, and equally poised scales over the head, to intimate the rectitude of her decisions. The figure is surrounded by four Virtues : these are Force with generosity, Prudence with the laws, Justice with arms, and Temperance with the word. This is a very beautiful picture, of appropriate and ingenious invention.[2]
About this time, Giotto once more repaired to Padua, where he painted several pictures, and adorned many chapels ; but more particularly that of the Arena, where he executed various works, from which he derived both honour and profit.[3] In Milan also he produced many paintings, which are scattered throughout that city, and are held in high estimation even to this day.[4] Finally, and no long time after he had returned from Milan, having passed his life in the production of so many admirable works, and proved himself a good Christian as well as excellent painter, Giotto resigned his soul to God in the year 1336,[5] not only to the great regret of
- ↑ This picture, which Ghiberti declares to have been perfect, was still existing in Cinelli's day, but cannot now be found.—Ed. Flor. 1846.
- ↑ This picture is also lost. —Idem.
- ↑ For a minute description of these works, see Baldinucci, Cicognara, etc.. ; see also a small work by the Marquis Selvatico, Sulla Cappellina degli Scrovegni e su i freschi di Giotto, Padua, 1836.
- ↑ The pictures painted in Milan by Giotto, who was invited thither by Azzo Visconti, were unworthily destroyed ; the only one now known to exist there is a Virgin and Child in the Brera, and which bears the name of the painter,written thus :—“opus magistri jocti florentini” But Masselli tells us, that this is but a portion of the original work, the two remaining parts of which are now in the Gallery of Bologna : on these are depicted St. Peter, St. Paul, the archangels Michael and Gabriel, with the figures of the Redeemer, the Virgin, and three other saints on the socle.
- ↑ Villani, book ix, chap. 12, has registered his death in the following words :—“Maestro Giotto, having returned from Milan, whither our commune had sent him for the service of the signore of Milan, departed this life on the 8th of January 1336.”
