History of art basic question

old story of free hand circle

[toma]

It might be interesting info how one painter got a job. Few centuries ago one have painted simple circle for contest. Got he job because he did it free hand. He is famous today; I just did not remember his name.
I need his name! Link to story is welcomed too. Please...
?
Thank you. :)

Forgive my English. I live in Balkan.

[brdwlsh]

giotto

do a search for giotto's circle.

i wonder if the sketch still exists?

[toma]

Thank you. I tried searching before, but without a name had no succes. Tried all "history of art" forums too. Interesting: just a few members here and there in those forums. So I had to return to my favourit, and in 5 hours here it is :)
This is not totally off-topic post, because I need story of Giotto for my site. It will have unique circle layout.

[1cicle]

I think he used to be a sheperd and learned to draw by sketching sheep on the rocks. It was some bigwig who wanted a demonstration of his skill for a proposed commission, and thats why he drew the freehand circle. In those days most artists would have presented an icon painting or somesuch.

You'll probably find the story is in Vasari's 'Lives of the Artists' (AKa 'Vasari's Lives') as thats where most of the biographical data on early renaissance painters comes from.

Icicle