Still, one would be pleased if the pope was not the same pope who made people burn Sappho's poems. When I state that any of these things were done or said, incidentally, what I more truthfully mean is that they were alleged to have been done or said, of course. As it was similarly alleged that Giotto once painted a perfect circle freehand. Although I happen to believe it categorically about the circle, most of such tales being harmless enough to believe in any event. Well, and I also see no reason not to believe that Piero di Cosimo would hide under a table when there was lightning. Or that Hugo van der Goes was not able to paint religious paintings in a church unless friars sang psalms to keep him from sobbing all day. Piero di Cosimo is not to be confused with yesterday's sunset, by the way, which was a Piero della Francesca, nor is Hugo van der Goes to be confused with Rogier van der Weyden, whose Descent from the Cross is so badly lighted at the Prado. Well, nor with Vincent Van Gogh, whose sunset was some days before Piero's.
