Giorgio Vasari

“ Without the chapel of the Nunziata and opposite to it, the same master made a large chandelier in bronze, five braccia high: the holy water font of marble at the entrance of the church is likewise by his hand, as is a figure of San Giovanni in the centre of the building, which is a very beautiful work. [41] Pagno also executed a half-length Madonna in marble, which was placed above the table or counter where the monks sell the candles. The size of the figure is that of life, the Child is in its arms, and the expression is very good. ”

“ Moreover they (Cosimo and Lorenzo de’ Medici) , being much devoted to religion, and zealous for the Divine service and worship, gave orders that the above-named convent of San Marco should be entirely rebuilt according to the design and model of Michelozzo, commanding that it should be constructed on the most extensive and magnificent scale, with all the conveniences that those monks could possibly desire. ”

“ Donatello availed himself for many years of Michelozzo’s aid; the latter having acquired great practice in works of marble, as well as in the casting of bronze. Of this we have proof in the sepulchral monument erected, as we have said, in the church of San Giovanni, at Florence, by Donatello, for the Pope Giovanni Coscia, since the greater part of it was executed by him. In the same place there is still to be seen a marble statue of Faith, by Michelozzo; it is two braccia and a half high, [4] and is very beautiful. ”

“ THE FLORENTINE SCULPTOR AND ARCHITECT
MICHELOZZO MICHELOZZI [1]
[born 1396?—died after the year 1470.]
If all who inhabit this world would consider that they may have to live when they can no longer work, there would not be so many who are reduced to beg that in their old age which they have squandqged without any kind of restraint in their youth, when their large and liberal gains, blinding their judgment, have tempted them to spend beyond what was needful, and much more than was right and suitable. ”

“ And this model having been approved by his Excellency, the work proceeded in accordance with it, and many commodious apartments were made, with easy staircases, private and public, which communicate with all the floors, and thus liberate the halls, which formerly were like a public road, since it was not possible to reach the upper stories without first passing through them. The whole was magnificently adorned with various paintings; and finally the roof of the great hall was raised twelve braccia above its previous height ”

“ When this had been accomplished, it was determined in pursuance of the advice of Michelozzo, by those who then governed the city, that the weight pressing on the arches of those columns should be diminished, and that the walls of that part should be reconstructed to that end. The buildings surrounding the court, from the arches upwards, were consequently altered; windows being made after the modern fashion, and similar to those which the master had constructed in the palace of the Medici ”

“ In like manner, the architect provided rooms for the women-servants, the ushers, doorkeepers, trumpeters, musicians, pipers, mace-bearers, servants of the courts, heralds, and such-like, with all other apartments required in a palace of that character. [15] On the upper part of the gallery, and entirely around the court, Michelozzo erected a stone cornice, with a reservoir of water, which was filled by the rains, for the use of the fountains that were required to play at certain times. ”

“ Cosimo de’ Medici also caused the palace of Cafaggiuolo in Mugello, to be constructed by the advice and after the plans of Michelozzo, who gave it the form of a fortress, surrounded by trenches: [26] be likewise proceeded to lay out farms, and make roads about the domain, while he further planted gardens, constructed fountains,with groves around them, and made aviaries, with all the other requisites to a complete country residence. At the distance of two miles from the palace, and in a place called the Friars’ Wood, Cosimo completed the erection of a convent, for the barefooted monks of St. ”

“ Michelozzo having accordingly said what he thought of the design, the charge of executing it was entrusted to Pagno di Lapo Partigiani, a sculptor of Fiesole, [37] who displayed much ability and foresight in the progress of the work, having many things to provide for in a very small space. This chapel is supported by four marble columns, about nine braccia high, with double flutings after the Corinthian manner ”

“ Of the old part there remain only the court, the external door of marble, exceedingly rich in ornament, with the portraits of Francesco Sforza and Bianca Maria, the devices of the Sforza family, those of the Medici, etc. Cicognara has given an engraving of two of the figures on the sides of the door. Filarate concludes the twenty-fifth and last book of his work, with a description of this magnificent palace, adding a pen-and-ink drawing of the elevation of its façade.— Ed. Flor. 1849. ↑ Modern changes have left but few vestiges of these paintings. ”

“ Prior Ricasoli. —Schorn. ↑ “An example by no means praiseworthy, being injurious to history, and authorizing posterity to inflict similar wrongs on the monuments of those who have failed to respect the memorials of their predecessors.”—Masselli. ”

“ No long time elapsed, however, before the offerings of the faithful repaired the mischief; so that this remarkable chapel is not now deprived of its rich decoration. — Masselli. ↑ At the time when Richa wrote his Notizie Storichc delle Chiese Florentine, the lily, with its ramifications, had been removed. — Masselli. ↑ About the middle of the seventeenth century, the walls of this choir were inlaid with precious stones, representing emblems and devices alluding to the Virgin. ”