dict IX., who was proposing to decorate
St Peter's with some paintings, sent a courtier from Treviso to
Tuscany, to see what manner of man Giotto was, and to report on the
quality of his work. On the way the courtier learned that there were
other excellent masters in painting and mosaic in Florence, and he
interviewed a number of artists at Siena. When he had received
designs from these, he proceeded to Florence. Entering Giotto's shop
one morning, as he was at work, the envoy explained to him the Pope's
intention, and the manner in which he wished to make use of his work,
and finally asked Giotto for some small specimen of work to send to
His Holiness. Giotto, who was always courteous, took a sheet of paper
and a red pencil, pressed his arm to his side to make a compass of
it, and then with a turn of his hand, produced a circle so perfect in
every particular that it was a marvel to see. This done, he turned
smiling to the courtier and said: "Here is the design." The latter,
who thought he was joking, said: "Am I to have no other design but
this?" "It is enough and more than enough," replied Giotto; "send it
in with the others and you will see if it is recognised." The
messenger perceived that he would obtain nothing else, and left in a
state of considerable dissatisfaction, imagining that he had been
laughed at. However, when he sent in the other designs with the names
of their authors, he included that of Giotto, and related how the
artist had executed it without moving his arm and without compasses.
From this the Pope and all the courtiers present recognised to what
an extent Giotto surpassed all the other painters of the time in
excellence. When the story became public it gave rise to a saying
which is still used for people of dull wits: "You are more round
(_tondo_) than Giotto's O." This proverb deserves to be considered a
good one, not only from the circumstances out of which it arose, but
much more for its meaning, which is due to the two-fold significance
of the word _tondo_ in Tuscany, that of a perfect circle, and
slowness and heaviness of mind. Accordingly the Pope sent for Giotto
to Rome, where he received him with great honour, and recognised his
worth. He caused him to paint for the tribune of St Peter's five
subjects from the life of Christ, and the principal picture for the
sacristy, all of which were executed with great care, nothing in
tempera ever leaving his hands before it was perfectly finished; th