TADDEO GADDI, born in 1300, was a much more able man than his father, after whose death he lived twenty-four years with Giotto, who was his godfather. He was the most distinguished of Giotto's scholars and imitators.
Vasari mentions the paintings of the sacristy of Santa Croce in Florence, as Taddeo's first works ; the altar-piece, however, of this chapel is altogether similar to tho other paintings, and it bears the date of 1378, which was some years after tho death of Taddeo : the portion which Vasari attributes to Taddeo are the five subjects from the life of the Magdalen. The frescoes of the Baroncelli (now Giugni) chapel in the same church, representing the life of the Virgin, also by Taddeo, according to Vasari, are in a different style, and in one which assimilates more with the characteristic style of the period. Taddeo enlarged somewhat upon the style of Giotto; he gave more bulk and motion to his figures. The frescoes of this chapel are perhaps the best of his works that remain : they have been engraved by Laainio. Taddeo painted also in Santa Maria Novella and other churches at Florence, and at Arezzo, and in 1342 at Pisa ; but little remains, of his works besides those mentioned above, and a few small altarpieces in tempera, in the gallery of the academy at Florence and at Berlin.
In Santa Maria Novella, Taddeo painted in fresco a wall and the ceiling of the Capella degli Spagnuoli, formerly the chapter-house. The ceiling represents the Resurrection and the Ascension of Christ, the 'Descent of the Holy Ghost,' and ' Peter saved from Shipwreck :' in the Resurrection' light proceeds from the body of Christ. The
painting of the wall is apparently an allegory to the glory of St. Thomas Aquinas, commemorating his extensive knowledge and his great services to the church. The other walls of the chapel were painted by Memmi at the !BIRO time as the works of Taddeo were executed, but are much Inferior to them ; on one of the walls are the reputed portraits of Petrarch and Laura. Taddeo's works in this chapel are the most considerable efforts in painting of the 14th century ; but they are not in a sufficient state of preservation to judge adequately of their merits, though sufficient to justify his reputation as the beat craftsman of his age or century. In composition he was symmetrical and ude, in character natural, and in expression not superior but equal to Giotto. Taddeo was likewise a distinguished architect; he built the present Ponte Vecchio in 1345, and the Ponte della Trinith, which was destroyed by the flood of 1557, and was replaced by the present bridge by Ammanati.
Taddeo Gaddi amassed great wealth, by means of which he esta blished his family, and the Gaddi have been for many centuries one of the most distinguished families of Florence. It is not known when Taddeo died, but Rumohr has shown that he was still living in 1366. He was buried near his father in Santa Croce.
His most distinguished scholars were Giovanni da Milano and Jacopo da Casentino, to whom he intrusted the care of his sons Giovanni and Angelo. Giovanni died young, after giving great promise as a painter.