The daily gazette., 1879-10-20
The Artist GiOttO.
By r. R.

When Giotto, the great painter, was
about ten years old, bOndOne entrusted
few sheep to his care and with these
he wandered about whittier his straying
flock might lead. But his mind was not
idle; the promptings Of nature were
working in his mind and, little dream
Ing of the future glory that awaited him,
he traced, from time to time, rude
sketches of objects or conceptions on the
earth, sand, or stones.
1t happened that, on a certain day,
Cimabue, the princely artist to whom
much of the restoration Of painting is
due, passed by on horseback, on his way
to Vespigano, and bebeld the youthful
shepherd drawing one Of the sheep from
the life, upon q smooth rock with q
roughly-pointed stone. Struck with the
ability Of the self-taught disciple of an
art in which he had SO greatly distin-
gushed himself, he pressed the boy to 60
home with him, which he did after hay
ing obtained his fathers consent.
Arrived at Florence, Giotto availed
himself of the instruction and opportu-
mites thus literally afforded him, with
such good effect that he speedily rivalled
his master.
He appears to have been of lively
and sportive disposition, and is said to
have once deceived his master by paint
lug fly OH the nose Of . figure upon
which Cimabue was himself engaged,a ,and
which the painter vainly attempted to
knock off with his hand before recon-
mencing the painting.
So great was the fame acquired by our
artist from his paintings In the Campo
Santo, that Pope Boniface VIII seUt one
of his courtiers from Trevis to Tuscany
to ascertain what sort of a man GiOtto
was. and the character of his works, with
the view of having certain pictures exc
cuted for the church of st. Peter. Hav-
ing conversed with several first-rate ar
lists of Siena, the emissary proceeded to
the school of Giotto, where he found him
engaged in his usual labors.
Having declared the purpose Of his
visit and the wish of his Holiness; he
begged to be allowed to take specimen
wi h him for satisfaction ofthe pontiff.
Giotto took sheet of paper, and dip
ping his pencil in some red color he raised
his elbow on one side so as to form sort
of compass, and with one turn of his hand
lle described, a circle, so perfect that 1t
was wondrous to behold. This he hand
ed srnilingly to the courtier, saying:
"Here Is your drawing"
cam l to take nothing bat this ?" ex-
claimed the latter, looking upon the affair
as jest.
"It is more than sufficient" replied
Giotto; "send it with the rest, and see II
10 mot ho rarounizQd "
The pontiff straightway commissioned
GiottO to paint some large pictures from
scenes in the life of Christ, in the sac
risty and church Of st. Peters. For
these he received six hundred golden du-
cats. But all his previous works were
eclipsed, as far as labor and minuteness
of execution went, by picture in mosa-
ic, called the Mavicella, which now stands
within the portico of st. Peters, over the
center arch facing the principal door.
The wit and livsliness of GiottO made
the Neapolitian king frequent compan-
ion of his labors. he was never at loss
for jest or witty reply.
On one occasion, the king said to him
"Giotto, if l were in your place, now
that it is so hot, l would give up paint
ing for q time, and take my rest."
$50 would l." retorted the artist, "ii
l were in your place."
The king, wishing to draw out the ar
tist, asked him to depict his kingdom
when Giotto drew an ass, bearing pack
saddle with a crown and scepter, while
a similar saddle lay at his feet, bearing
the same royal insignia; these last welt
all new, and the ass scented them witt
an evident desire to get them in exchange
for the old load.
"Such," he observed In explanation
"is the kingdom, and such are the sub
jeots, who are every day hankering afte'
new load"
the Campanile of Santa Maria del Flor
| of which he not only formed the model
| but like wise executed some of the sculp
| lures and relieves. Having passed hi
life in the production of many admir-
able works, and proved himself as goo'
| Christian ss he was excellent apainte
he resigned his soul to G. cd on the SIl
of January, 1886.
He was honorably entombed, and up
ward of a century after his death LOrenz
de Medici raised bust to his memOr
| OI...l~ % opto NJ Movia dol Finra