Full text: A handbook of Florence and its environs

Florence—Churches—Santa Croce. 
17 
only exposed on the feast of St. John 
nected with the construction of the 
the Baptist), is of silver, richly ena¬ 
Cathedral. 
melled; the frame-work is of delicate 
Gothic workmanship. It was begun 
Church of Santa Croce, the principal 
in 1366, but not completed till after 
church in Florence, of the Conventual 
Minors, of the Order of St. Francis, 
1477. Ghiberti, Orgagna, Bartolom- 
or Black Friars. St. Francis sent his 
meo Cenni, Andrea del Verrocchio, 
and Antonio del Pollajuolo were em- 
earliest colony to this city in 1212, 
who, after some migrations, were located 
ployed upon it, and the account¬ 
books, testifying the payments made 
in this magnificent building, of which 
to them, are still preserved here. The 
the first- stone was laid with great 
Arnolfo was the 
dossale, which is about 5 ft. in height 
pomp in 1294. 
and 15 in length, is in three divisions. 
architect. It is 460 ft. long and 134 
ft. wide across the nave and two aisles. 
In the centre is a fine statue of St. John, 
by Michelozzidi Bartolommeo. Around. 
Almost from its foundation this church 
in compartments, is the history of the 
became the favourite place of interment 
life of St. John. The tabernacle and 
of the Florentines; and it has been 
appropriately designated as the “ West¬ 
filigree-work are of great delicacy. 
del 
minster Abbey and the “ Pantheon 
the portion executed by Antonio 
of Florence. 
Pollajuolothe countenances are remark 
In a niche over the principal door 
able for their expression. The figures, 
of course, exhibit a progress in style. 
stands a bronze statue of St. Louis, 
Bishop of Toulouse, by Donatello. 
-A rich silver crucifix (about 1456), 
by Betto di Francesco Betti, a Floren- 
Above, in a circle, are the letters I. H. S., 
remarkable as having been placed there 
tine, and Antonio del Pollajuolo.—A 
by St. Bernardino of Siena after the 
pastoral staff of the same period, with 
the Virgin, St. John, and other figures 
plague in 1437. He was the inventor 
—A mosaic diptych of Greek workman- 
of these initials to denote the name 
ship of the 11th century. It had been 
and mission of our Lord, Jesus Ho¬ 
preserved in the Imperial Chapel of 
minum Salvator. Having remonstrated 
Constantinople, and was sold to the 
with a maker of playing cards upon 
baptistery, towards the end of the 14th 
the sinfulness of his calling, the man 
century, by a Venetian lady, Nicoletta 
pleaded poverty, and the needs of 
de Grionibus, whose husband had been 
his family. “ Oh, replied the saint, 
chamberlain to the Emperor John Can- 
“ I will help you;” and writing the 
tacuzene. The figures are small, and 
letters I. H. s., he advised the card¬ 
the workmanship is fine and delicate : 
maker to gild and paint these upon 
the tessera of the mosaic are micro¬ 
cards, and sell them; and they took 
scopic, and are so well put together 
greatly. St. Bernardino then travelled 
as almost to have the effect of minia¬ 
the country, putting up I. H. s. wher- 
ture. As far as design is concerned, this 
ever he went. A subscription was set 
diptych is one of the finest existing 
on foot, headed by Grand Duke Leo- 
specimens of Byzantine art. The setting 
pold II., to complete the façade of 
is evidently of much later date than the 
this national temple, from a design left 
compartments. The Guardaroba also 
by Cronaca, and thereby repair. what 
contains many early paintings of the 
might be considered a want of respect to 
school of Giotto. 
the memory ofthe illustrious menwhose 
In the cortile of the Opera del Duomo 
remains have found a resting-place 
are preserved some curious specimens 
within its hallowed walls; the prin- 
of ancient sculpture—a Roman millia¬ 
cipal contributor being our countryman, 
rium from the Via Cassia of the time 
Mr.Sloane, longsettled in Tuscany. The 
of Hadrian, some mediaval bas-re¬ 
façade will be completed in the course of 
liefs and statues. In its Archivio 
1861, and in a great measure owing to 
are many interesting documents con¬ 
the liberality of this English gentleman.
	        
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