1320; his altar-piece for the
Cathedral of Siena was also carried to its place in solemn procession,
with the sound of trumpet, drum, and bell.

GIOTTO DI BONDONE was the next artist in whom we have an unusual interest.
He was born at Del Colle, in the commune of Vespignano, probably about
1266, though the date is usually given ten years later. One of the best
reasons for calling Cimabue the "Father of Painting" is that he acted the
part of a father to Giotto, who proved to be so great an artist that from
his time painting made a rapid advance. The story is that one day when
Cimabue rode in the valley of Vespignano he saw a shepherd-boy who was
drawing a portrait of one of his sheep on a flat rock, by means of a
pointed bit of slate for a pencil. The sketch was so good that Cimabue
offered to take the boy to Florence, and teach him to paint. The boy's
father consented, and henceforth the little Giotto lived with Cimabue, who
instructed him in painting, and put him to study letters under Brunetto
Latini, who was also the teacher of the great poet, Dante.

[Illustration: FIG. 29.--PORTRAIT OF DANTE, PAINTED BY GIOTTO.]

The picture which we give here is from the earliest work by Giotto of
which we have any knowledge. In it were the portraits of Dante, Latini,
and several others. This picture was painted on a wall of the Podesta at
Florence, and when Dante was exiled from that city his portrait was
covered with whitewash; in 1841 it was restored to the light, having been
hidden for centuries. It is a precious memento of the friendship between
the great artist and the divine poet, who expressed his admiration of
Giotto in these lines:--

"In painting Cimabue fain had thought
To lord the field; now Giotto has the cry,
So that the other's fame in shade is brought."

Giotto did much work in Florence; he also, about 1300, executed frescoes
in the Lower Church at Assisi; from 1303-1306 he painted his beautiful
pictures in the Cappella dell' Arena, at Padua, by which the genius of
Giotto is now most fully shown. He worked at Rimini also, and about 1330
was employed by King Robert of Naples, who conferred many honors upon him,
and made him a member of his own household. In 1334 Giotto was made the
chief master of the cathedral works in Florence, as well as of the city
fortifications and all architectural undertakings by the city authorities.
He held this high position but three years, as he died on Januar