Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-10-18
Number g.

ellis were hard stick or sharp piece OF
stone his chief models were his flock.
which he used TO copy as they gathered
around him in various attitudes.
One day as the shepherd boy Law in the
midst Of his flock, earnestly ske,chine
something on a stone. there came by a
traveller. Struck with the boys deep Al.
tention 10 his work. and the unconscious
grace of his attitude, the stranger stopped,
and went to look ut his work. Ii was a
sketch OF sheep, drawn with such free
dom and truth Of nature that the traveller
beheld il with as;onishment.
"Whose son are you!" cried he with
eagerness.
The startled boy looked up in the face
OF his questioner. .'My father is Bon
done the laborer, and | am his little Giotto,
so please the signor," said he.
"Well. then. little Giotto, should YOU
like to come and live with me. and learn
how to draw and paint sheep like this, and
horses, and even men,
The child's eyes flashed with light.
Il will go with you anywhere TO learn
that. But he added. as sudden rcilec.
ton made him change color, IL must first
go and ask my father; | can do nothing
without his leave"
THAT is quite right. my boy. and so we
will 60 to him together" said the stran-
ssr. twas the painter Cimabue.
Great was the wonder of old Bondone
az such sudden proposal; but he per-
ceived his sons wish, though Giol,o was
fearful of expressing il, and consented.
lie accompanied his boy 10 Florence. and
left his little Giotto under the painters
care.
His pupils progress surpassed Gina
bue' expectations. In delineating nature
Giotto soon went beyond his master, To
whom a good deal of the formality of
modern Greek art, which he had been the
first to cast aside, still chung. One morn
ing the artist came into his studio. and
looking at a halffnshed head, saw fly
resting on the nose. Cimabue tried 20
brush il off. when he discovered that il
was only painted.
"Who done this!'' cried he, half an
cry, half delighted.
Giotto crept trembling from corner,
and confessed his fault. Blu, he met with
praise instead Of reproof from his master.
who loved art too well 10 be indignant at
his pupils talent, even though the frolic
were directed against himself.
AS Giotto grew older, his fame spread
far and wide. Pope Benedict TX, sent
messengers to him one day; they entered
the artists studio, ard informed him Of
the pope's request that he should send a
design for an intended church for Giotto
like most of the artists of those early times
was an architect as well as painter. He
took sheet of paper, fixed his elbow at
his side to keep his hand steady, and drew
instantly a perfect circle.
''Tell his holiness that this is my de-
sign" said he; and with all their remon-
strances, Giotto refused to give any 9TH
err. Pope Benedict was learned man
he saw that Giotto had gwen the best in
stance of perfection in his art: sent for
him to Rome. and honered and rewarded
him. "Round as Gioito's o." became
an Italian proverb Giotto, as these sto-
ries testify, was q pleasant and humorous
man.
The talents of Giotto won him the pat
ronage Of the great of his country. He
visited in succession Padua. Venora and
Ferrera. At the latter city he remained
sometime painting for the Prince Of Este.
While there Dante heard Of Giotfo. and
invited him to Ravenna, the present abode
of the exiled Florentine poet. There al
so he painted many Of his works, and
formed a strong friendship with the great
Dante. The shepherd-boy Of Vespignano
was now in the height of his fame. adj
mitted into the society Of the Italian no.
bles, enjoying the friendship of the talent
ed men Of his age Dante. Boccaccio
and Petrarch - and admired by ALL his
was indeed an enviable position. And
he was good man. as well as great. loved
by all his friends and. as his biographer
Vasari. says. "a good christian as well as
an excellent painter" He died al Milan
in the year 1886, and was followed to the
grave by the sorrow Of his friends, his OBJ
sequies receiving those public honors
which he so well merited.-ChamLers'
Miscellany, No. 90.