awaiting her, and she has a rich throne prepared for her seat,—a work of great merit for those times, and finished with so much care, that it has remained, even to our own days,[1] in excellent preservation. This done, Gaddo returned to Florence, intending to take repose from his labours ; he, accordingly, employed himself only in the preparation of small pictures in mosaic, of which some were composed entirely of egg-shells, finished with incredible industry and patience,[2]as may be seen, among others, in a few still remaining in the church of San Giovanni in Florence. We read, also, that two of these mosaics were made for King Robert, but nothing more is known of them, and this shall suffice as to the mosaics of Gaddo Gaddi. He executed, also, many easel-pictures, and, among others, that in Santa Maria Novella, on the screen of the Minerbetti Chapel, with many more which were sent into various parts of Tuscany,[3] Labouring thus, sometimes in mosaic and sometimes in painting, Gaddo produced many good works in both branches of art, and these will always suffice to maintain his reputation. I could here say much more of this master ; but as the manner of the painters of those times cannot often be made available for the benefit of artists in our own, I pass it over in silence, proposing to speak at more length in the lives of those who, having improved the arts, may serve, in some sort, as our examples.
Gaddo lived seventy-three years, and died in 1312. He was honourably interred, by his son Taddeo, in the church of Santa Croce ; and although he had other children, Taddeo alone, who was the godson of Giotto, devoted himself to painting, having acquired the first principles from his father, and completed his studies under Giotto. Beside Taddeo, his son, Gaddo had, as observed, another disciple—Vicino, a painter of Pisa—who executed some very good mosaics for the
- ↑ It is preserved even to these days ; but it represents the Madonna only, seated on a throne, and surrounded by angels.—Ed. Flor. 1846.
- ↑ One of these little mosaics, made in the manner described, by Vasari, is still to be seen in the Galleria degli Uffizj in Florence ; it represents the Saviour, a front view : the right hand on the breast, the left holding an open book in Greek ; the whole design and character of the work being also Greek. It is formed of egg-shells, united with incredible care and patience, as Vasari well observes.—Ed. Flor. 1846.
- ↑ All the pictures of Gaddi, which were in Tempera, are now lost.
