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Sacristy, a fine and majestic chamber designed and buit
by the Dominican architect Fra Jacopo di Nipozzano
in 1390. The decorations of the ceiling were restored
in 1860. There is a fine stained-glass window and a fine
fount in glazed and coloured terra-cotta adorned with figures
and other ornaments, by Luca della Robbia. — Amateurs
desiring to view important original works belonging to the
time of the revival of modern painting must ask the sexton
to take them to the Green Cloister to the Spaniards’Cha-
pel and to the Grand Cloister, which are in the now sup-
pressed Convent.
The Green Cloister was built by lacopo da Nipozzano.
It is famous for the frescoes by Paolo Uccello and Nello,
painted in 1340 with green earth, whence its name. On the
E. side Paolo Uccello painted sacred subjects from the
Creation to the Deluge, and on the other two the history
of the Jewish people. In the middle of the N. side is the
door leading to the
Spaniards’ Chapel (Cappella degli Spagnuoli) which was
formerly the Chapter house of the Convent and was granted
by Cosimo I to the Spanish merchants in the XVIth. cen-
tury. This Chapel contains the famous and well-conserved
frescoes painted in 1335 by Simone Memmi and Taddeo
Gaddi, and on which Francesco Petrarca, the poet, wrote
two sonnets at Avignon, one of which begińs thus:
Quando giunse a Simon l’alto concetto, etc.
On the E. wall Simone Memmi has represented the
Militant and the Triumphant Church. In the lower part
of the picture are several white and black dogs, alluding
to the costume of the Dominicans, fighting with a band
of wolves, representing the Heretics. Above these St. Do-
minick is preaching Religion, and, still higher the same
Saint is showing the way to Paradise. St. Peter is opening
the gate to the Elect. At the top is the Last Judgement
Below the Elect are the great dignitaries of the Church,