BAPTISTERY.
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statue of our Lord. The present font was erected in 1658,
but it seems to be of an earlier period. The sculptures
are good.
The noble tomb of Balthasar Cossa (John XXIII.,
(d. 1419)) bears the insignia of the popedom on the ar¬
morial shields. He was deposed in the council of Cons-
tance (1414) and Ottone Colonna, or Pope Martin V.,
substitued in his stead (p. 165). Martin objected to the
title of “Quondam Papa,” here given to his predecessor,
but the Florentines would not forget that their country-
man had been such, though deposed. The tomb is raised
high above the ground, in the style of the renaissance.
The sarcophagus is supported by Faith, Hope, and Charity,
the two latter by Donatello, but rather inferior to his
usual skill.
All the baptisms of the city are still performed in this
church, according to the ancient ritual, and you rarely
enter the building without witnessing the ceremony.
According to the verbal information of the registrar, the
average number of baptisms is now 3300 per annum.
From 1470 to 1490, the average was 2094 annually;
from 1770 to 1790, it was 3355. In 1835, it was 3564.
It is stated, that, taking the average of months, births
are always scarcest in June, and most plentiful in January,
February, and March. We notice this assertion, in order
that those who are interested in statistical inquiries, may,
if they choose, examine into its accuracy.
The Piazza di San Giovanni is, in fact, one with
that of the duomo. The hospital of the Bigallo at one
extremity, though modernised, shows some fine remains
of Gothic in the style of Orgagna. The oratory, now used
as a depository for government papers, contains some
curious frescos by Rodolfo Ghirlandajo, On the south is
the column of San Zanobi, erected in the 14th century,