The O of Giotto

The Stefaneschi Triptych by Giotto at the Vatican Museum

Pope Boniface VIII wanted to commission some paintings for the Vatican Basilica. So he asked some artists to go around and search for the best painter they could find. They asked the painters to produce a sample of their works. When they arrived at the workshop of Giotto, a famous Italian artist of the 13th century, he simply bent down and picking up a brush, a knelt down and made a perfect circle on a piece of parchment. They made fun of him but Giotto insisted that the Pope would understand when shown the perfect circle he did by hand. The Pope noticed right away the artistry of such a genius and commissioned him to paint some of his masterpieces, including the Stefaneschi Triptych, reproduced here in this post.