Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/129

Rh finished ; but which was continued after his death by Taddeo Gaddi. While this undertaking was in progress, Giotto painted a picture for the nuns of San Giorgio, and in the abbey of Florence, within the church, and on an arch over the door, he executed three half-length figures, which were afterwards whitewashed over, to give more light to the church. In the great in Florence, Giotto painted a picture, the idea of which was afterwards frequently borrowed. In this he represented the Commune seated, in the character of a judge, with a sceptre in the hand, and equally poised scales over the head, to intimate the rectitude of her decisions. The figure is surrounded by four Virtues : these are Force with generosity, Prudence with the laws, Justice with arms, and Temperance with the word. This is a very beautiful picture, of appropriate and ingenious invention. About this time, Giotto once more repaired to Padua, where he painted several pictures, and adorned many chapels ; but more particularly, where he executed various works, from which he derived both honour and profit. In Milan also he produced many paintings, which are scattered throughout that city, and are held in high estimation even to this day. Finally, and no long time after he had returned from Milan, having passed his life in the production of so many admirable works, and proved himself a good Christian as well as excellent painter, Giotto resigned his soul to God in the year 1336, not only to the great regret of