Perfect Circle

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Striving for the Pope's Commission

A courtier from Pope Benedict IX told Giotto that the Pope wanted to make use of his services and asked him for a drawing which he could send to his holiness.

At this Giotto took a sheet of paper and a brush dipped in red, closed his arm to his side, and with a twist of his hand drew such a perfect circle that it was a marvel to see. Then, with a smile, he said to the courtier: "There's your drawing." As if he were being ridiculed, the courtier replied: "Is this the only drawing I'm to have?"

"It's more than enough," answered Giotto. "Send it along and you'll see whether it's understood or not."