ground, he bruised himself internally in such a manner, and
injured himself so grievously, that in the space of two days, with
greater loss to art than to himself, who went to a better place, he
passed from this life. And the people of San Gimignano, honouring him
much in the way of obsequies, gave to his body honourable burial in the
aforesaid Pieve, holding him after death in the same repute wherein they
had held him in life, and not ceasing for many months to attach round
his tomb epitaphs both Latin and Italian, by reason of the men of that
country being naturally given to fine letters. So, then, they conferred
a suitable reward on the honest labours of Berna, celebrating with their
pens him who had honoured them with his pictures.

Giovanni da Asciano, who was a pupil of Berna, brought to completion the
remainder of that work; and he painted some pictures in the Hospital of
the Scala at Siena, and also some others in the old houses of the Medici
at Florence, which gave him considerable fame. The works of Berna of
Siena date about 1381. And because, besides what has been said, Berna
was passing dexterous in draughtsmanship and was the first who began to
portray animals well, as bears witness a drawing by his hand that is in
our book, all full of wild beasts of diverse sorts, he deserves to be
consummately praised and to have his name held in honour by craftsmen.
His disciple, too, was Luca di Tome of Siena, who painted many works in
Siena and throughout all Tuscany, and in particular the panel and the
chapel that are in S. Domenico at Arezzo, belonging to the family of the
Dragomanni; which chapel, German in architecture, was very well adorned,
by means of the said panel and of the work that is therein in fresco, by
the hand and by the judgment and genius of Luca of Siena.

[Illustration: THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN

(_After the painting by_ Luca di Tome. _Newhaven, U.S.A.: Jarvis
Collection_)]

DUCCIO

[Illustration: THE MADONNA ENTHRONED

(_After the panel by Duccio. Siena: Opera del Duomo_)

_Alinari_]

LIFE OF DUCCIO

PAINTER OF SIENA

Without doubt those who are inventors of anything notable receive the
greatest attention from the pens of the writers of history, and this
comes to pass because the first inventions are more observed and held in
greater marvel, by reason of the delight that the novelty of the thing
brings with it, than all the improvements made afterwards by any man
wh