St John the Evangelist drinking from the poisoned cup

Taddeo Gaddi's depiction of Saint John the Evangelist drinking from the poisoned cup illustrates a popular episode from the Golden Legend, in which the saint survived a murder attempt by consuming poisoned wine. Now in the Cini collection, this panel was likely part of a narrative cycle depicting the life and miracles of Saint John. Taddeo's ability to render dramatic narrative scenes with clarity and conviction was central to his success as the leading Florentine painter after Giotto.

Egg tempera on panel, showing Taddeo Gaddi's Giottesque approach to narrative composition with clearly staged figures and expressive gestures. The scene is organized with the spatial logic and volumetric modeling learned from Giotto, enhanced by rich color harmonies and gilded details.