THE CATHEDRAL.
was to have surrounded the dome; but through Michelangiolo
highly disapproving, that for this gallery, the corner stones
left by Brunellesco should be cut, the work remained unsini-
shed, besides its disagreing with the edifice. It is believed, that
Brunellesco’s designs of the gallery, were lost through the care-
lessness of the Directors dell’ Opera; and those of Michelan-
giolo, were not adopted, on account of the disputes they caused.
Arnolfo had begun the façade; but Giotto gavethedrawings,
of a finer and a nobler one; and built it up to half its height.
In 1586 willing to construct a front of a more modern archi¬
tecture, the vandalism was committed, of destroying the one
by Giotto; of which, the single statues were conserved. -
Buontalenti, Dosio, Cigoli, Silvani and others, gave drawings
for the new façade; bul not knowing which to prefer, none
of them was accepted. — Shortly after another was begun, but
not pteasing, it was unfinished.
Pictures and sculptures out of the Church. — Over the side
entrance, lateral to the Campanile, is a small statue attributed
to Niccolò Aretino. — Over the other same side entrance, oppo¬
site to the houses of the Canonici, a Madonna and two Angels
attributed to Giovanni Pisano. — On the opposite side of the
Church, over the entrance facing to the Via de' Servi, is to be
seen an Annunciation of the Virgin, marble work by Nanni
d’Antonio di Banco: lower down, two small statues by Dona-
tello; and in the lunette, the Annunciation in mosaic by Do¬
menico del Ghirlandajo. — The statues over the other entrance
opposite to the Via del Cocomero, are attributed to lacopo della
Quercia.
Pictures and sculplures in Church. — Entering the Church
by its principal entrance, one will observe the great clock
over that doorway; its dial was painted in fresco by Paolo Uc¬
cello. Of the pictures, there only remain, at the four corners
of the clock, the four prophets.
See il in the Ufizio del Bigallo.
See it in the: Chiostro of S. Croce; in the Chiostro of S. Marco, by
Poccetti; in a painting belonging to the Misericordia.