366 EARLY CHRISTIAN ART. Chap. XIII. sacristy and great refectory, or those of Niccola di Pietro Gerini, who is evidently the author of the entombment assigned to Gaddi in the Academy of Fine Arts at Flo rence. 1 Gerini was an artist who lived till late in the fifteenth century, — the painter of several frescos at Pisa and Prato, and one whose position amongst the followers of the declining Giottesque manner will require future consideration. Amongst the pictures of Taddeo Gaddi, one in the church of S. Felicita at Florence stands on an altar be neath and to the right of the organ loft, another, reminis cent of his style is in the antichamber to the sacristy of S. Giovanni Evangelista at Pistoia, and a third in the Museum of Naples. The first, an altarpiece in the form of a five niched tabernacle is somewhat restored. It re presents the Virgin and child enthroned amongst Saints and angels, with hope, faith, humility, and charity symbo lically depicted on the pinnacles of the throne. 2 It has quite the character of the frescos at the Baroncelli and the altarpiece of 1355- The second picture similar in subject to the last, 3 but with the annunciation in the upper spaces may be noted for heads perhaps of a lower type than was usual with Taddeo, the foreheads being low and depressed; but the draperies are broad though conventionally arranged. The third of the pictures is dated 1336 and is a triptych of hard but transparent surface-colour, painted without the usual preparation, but with rapidity, on a white ground in warm tones tending to yellow, high in surface in the lights. In bold handling it rivals the pa nels of the S. Croce presses. The figures are square 1 Vasari. Vol. II. p. 111. This picture was in the church of Or- sanmichele, and is now No. 31 in the Acad, of Arts at Florence. 2 S.S. John the Baptist, James the Elder, Luke, and Philip. The infant holds a bird, and 4 angels kneel singing and with offerings of flowers at each side of the throne. Little prophets in pairs are in the spandrils of the arches, under which the chief saints are painted. 3 Virgin and child between S.S. John Evangelist, James the Elder, Peter, and John the Bap tist.