n and native
masters to be the finest work of its kind that had yet been seen in
Italy, for they recognised that it possessed more design and more
judgment, and displayed the results of more study, than were to be
found in all the remaining works in mosaic then in existence in the
peninsula. Thus, his fame being spread abroad by this work, he was
summoned to Rome by Clement V. in the year 1308,--that is to say, in
the year following the great fire, in which the church and palaces of
the Lateran were destroyed. There he completed for the Pope some
works in mosaic, which had been left unfinished by Jacopo da Turrita.

His next work, also in mosaic, was in the church of St Peter's, where
he executed some things in the principal chapel and for other parts
of the church; but especially a God the Father, of large size with
many figures, which he did for the facade. He also assisted in the
completion of some mosaics on the facade of S. Maria Maggiore,
somewhat improving the style, and departing slightly from the
Byzantine manner, which was entirely devoid of merit. On his return
to Tuscany, he did some work in mosaic for the Tarlati, lords of
Pietramala, in the old Duomo, outside Arezzo, in a vault entirely
constructed of spungite. He covered the middle part of this
building with mosaics; but the church fell down in the time of Bishop
Gentile Urbinate, because the old stone vaulting was too heavy for
it, and it was afterwards rebuilt in brick by that bishop. On his
departure from Arezzo, Gaddo went to Pisa, where he made, for a niche
in the chapel of the Incoronata in the Duomo, the Ascension of Our
Lady into Heaven, where Jesus Christ is awaiting her, with a richly
appareled throne for her seat. This work was executed so well and so
carefully for the time, that it is in an excellent state of
preservation to-day. After this, Gaddo returned to Florence,
intending to rest. Accordingly he amused himself in making some small
mosaics, some of which are composed of egg-shells, with incredible
diligence and patience, and a few of them, which are in the church of
S. Giovanni at Florence, may still be seen. It is related that he
made two of these for King Robert, but nothing more is known of the
matter. This much must suffice for the mosaics of Gaddo Gaddi. Of
pictures he painted a great number, among them that which is on the
screen of the chapel of the Minerbetti in S. Maria Novella, and many
others sent to different places i