GADDI, the name of a famous Florentine family, some of whose members—father, son and two grandsons in the 13th and 14th century—were artists. A third grandson, Zanobi (d. 1400) was a banker and ambassador of Florence to Venice. He laid the foundation of a large fortune and placed the family in a highly distinguished position from which sprang cardinals, statesmen and literary men. The art collection of the Gaddi family was rich in drawings. manuscripts and gems.
I. GADDO GADDI, Florentine painter and mosaicist, according to Vasari, died in 1312 at the age of 73; but according to older rec ords he was still alive in 133o. Vasari states that he was a friend of Cimabue and Giotto and ascribes to him works very different in style (the mosaics inside the portico of S. Maria Maggiore in Rome, which are very much restored, and the mosaics representing the Coronation of the Virgin inside the portal of the cathedral at Florence).
2. TADDEO GADDI (c. 1300-1366) son of Gaddo, was born in Florence. According to Cennino he worked under Giotto for 24 years, being that master's most distinguished pupil. His most important works are the frescoes in the Baroncelli chapel in S. Croce in Florence, representing incidents in the legend of the Vir gin. On the ceiling of the same chapel are the "Eight Virtues," and on the funeral monument the "Virgin and Child between four Prophets." In the refectory at the same church is a "Last Supper," which reveals the master at the height of his powers (c. 135o). Other frescoes by Taddeo are at Ognisanti in Florence, in the church of San Miniato, and in the choir of San Francesco at Pisa. There are two altar-pieces signed by Taddeo representing the Ma donna ; one, dated 1334, is in the Museum at Berlin ; the other, dated 1355 was removed from Poggibonsi to the Uffizi. Other works which are generally ascribed to the master are : Two large altar-pieces of the "Madonna with Saints," one at S. Felicita in Florence, the other at San Giovanni Fuoricivitas at Pistoia (1353), and two small triptychs at the Strasbourg and Naples Museums. There is a "Madonna with Saints" at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and a Madonna in the collection of F. L. Babbot at Brooklyn. A series of paintings, partly scenes from the life of St. Francis, executed for the presses in S. Croce and now divided be tween the Florentine Academy and the Berlin museum, have also been attributed to the master. Taddeo Gaddi's art did not rise to Giotto's monumental simplicity and dramatic expression, but de veloped on independent lines with a tendency towards realism.
3. AGNOLO GADDI, was the son and pupil of Taddeo. The date of his birth has been given as 1326, but 135o is probably nearer the mark. He died in Florence in Oct. 1396. In 1369 he was called to Rome to assist in painting frescoes in the Vatican (now lost). In the years 1380, 1383, 1386, he carried out designs for statuary in the Loggia dei Lanzi. He also did some work for the cathedral. His most important paintings are the frescoes in S. Croce in Florence, "representing every circumstance of the discovery of the cross; a work which certainly displays considerable facility, but very little force of design, the colouring only being tolerably well done," as Vasari says.
4. GIOVANNI GADDI, brother of Agnolo, was a painter of prom ise, a pupil of his brother. He died young in 1383.