DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0101
GADDO GADDI.
85
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,* in
excellent preservation. This done, Gaddo returned to Flo-
rence, intending to take repose from his labours; he, accord-
ingly, employed himself only in the preparation of small pic-
tures in mosaic, of which some were composed entirely of
egg-shells, finished with incredible industry and patience,!
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 No-
vella, on the screen of the Minerbetti Chapel, with many more
which were sent into various parts of Tuscany4 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 ex-
amples.
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 paint-
ing, 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.
t 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.
i All the pictures of Gaddi, which were in Tempera, are now lost.
85
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,* in
excellent preservation. This done, Gaddo returned to Flo-
rence, intending to take repose from his labours; he, accord-
ingly, employed himself only in the preparation of small pic-
tures in mosaic, of which some were composed entirely of
egg-shells, finished with incredible industry and patience,!
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 No-
vella, on the screen of the Minerbetti Chapel, with many more
which were sent into various parts of Tuscany4 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 ex-
amples.
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 paint-
ing, 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.
t 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.
i All the pictures of Gaddi, which were in Tempera, are now lost.