Florentine artists: Giotto (continued from f.17 verso); Figures from the New Testament in the Sacristy of Santa Croce: 832/5.f.18

Materials used in production

Brown ink

Components of the work

Support composed of laid paper
Leaf Size Height 213 mm Width 150 mm

Techniques used in production

Handwriting : Pen and brown ink on laid paper

Inscription or legends present

• Text: 18
• Location: Upper right
• Method of creation: Brown ink

Inscription present: [i] preceding four words crossed through in brown ink; [ii] preceding word crossed through in brown ink

• Text: I saw, I think upwards of [i] 26 small subjects / from the New Testament & c figures about 9 or / 10 Inches high, in the Sacristy of / Santa Croce at Florence painted by this / Artist, the compositions are distinct & striking / the perfection of the characters &[ii] the force of action / & expression is astonishing & a little more Ana- / -tomy light shadow & perspective would have / set them amongst the first productions of / human talents, M:l Angelo seems to have / taken a hint from Giotto's design executed / in marble basrelief on the Campanile Florence of God / creating Eve, / Taddeo Gaddi / Scholare of Giotto in the historical pictures of / the life of the Virgin in the Church of Santa / at Florence, has followed his Master's / manner of painting: on the walls of the outside / of this church is the Virgin sitting in glory / surrounded by flying Angels, it is perhaps / 40 feet long, in this composition is simple & / grand, the characters innocent & beautiful / & the folds of the draperies marked with intelligence / there is on this wall also a figure of / S:t Xstopher with the infant Jesus on his shoulders I suppose / 16 f:t high with many other figures:
• Location: Recto
• Method of creation: Brown ink

Inscription present: [i] preceding word crossed through in brown ink; [ii] preceding three words crossed through in brown ink, following three words above the line; [iii] preceding two words crossed through in brown ink; [iv] word crossed through in brown ink; [v] preceding word crossed through in brown ink, following word above the line

• Text: in the Corridore of the Duke's Gallery / is a picture of the Virgin teaching[i] with the / Infant Jesus to read, to[ii] on her lap 3 young Angels stand / by teaching him to read, 2 young Angels / fly above placing a crown of light on the Virgin's head, the Composition is Simple / strikingly beautiful & affecting, the Characters / expressive of the utmost sweetness & tenderness / the heads & hands copied with so much diligence / from the finest Nature, that it seems a / divine apparition, a little less hardness in / the outline & a little more knowledge of[iii] light / & shadow would have placed it in my / opinion far beyond any Holy Family of / Raphaels: by Tad:o Gaddi / Andrea & Bernardo / Orcagno / in the pre[iv] Chapple painted by them in Santa Maria Novella, have[v] are represented as you enter on the left God the Father sitting / above, the Virgin sitting under & beneath her / multitudes of Saints & Angels congratulating
• Location: Verso
• Method of creation: Brown ink

Identification numbers

Accession number: 832/5.f.18
Primary reference Number: 38183
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 20 May 2021 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints