DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0524
508
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
entirely of marble, desired to have the opinion of Michelozzo,
who was now become old, respecting the matter, not only
because he highly estimated the skill of that master, but also
because he knew how faithful a friend and servant the latter
bad been to Cosimo his father. 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,* 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 ; the bases and capitals are variously
carved, and are duplicate in all their parts. Over the columns
are the architrave, frieze, and cornice, all with the parts in
like manner doubled and sculptured in various fancies, but
more particularly with the arms of the Medici, and with
foliage. Between these and other cornices constructed for
another range of windows, is a long inscription, beautifully cut
in marble; while between the four columns, and forming the
ceiling of the chapel, is a canopy of marble, richly carved
and decorated with enamels, prepared by the action of fire,
and with mosaics of various fancies in gold, and precious
stones. The pavement is formed of porphyry, serpentine,
vari-coloured and other marbles, and stones of price, distri-
buted and arranged in very beautiful order: the chapel is
enclosed within a railing of bronze, above which are chan-
deliers, fastened into an ornamental frame-work of marble,
which makes a most admirable finish to the bronze railing
and the chandeliers : the door which closes the chapel is also
of bronze, and is very well executed. Piero left commands
to the effect that the chapel should be surrounded by lights,
arranged in thirty lamps of silver, and this was done ; but
as these lamps were broken up during the siege, our lord the
Duke gave orders many years since that they should be re-
placed, and the greater part of them are already made, the
work being still in progress; but in the meantime there has
never ceased to be the same number of lights kindled, thirty
namely, as was commanded by Piero, although the lamps have
* The marble font in the church of San Giovanni at Siena, is a work
of this artist, who gave the design for the palace erected at Bologna by
Sante Bentivoglio, in the year 1460.—Ed. Flor. 1846-9.
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
entirely of marble, desired to have the opinion of Michelozzo,
who was now become old, respecting the matter, not only
because he highly estimated the skill of that master, but also
because he knew how faithful a friend and servant the latter
bad been to Cosimo his father. 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,* 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 ; the bases and capitals are variously
carved, and are duplicate in all their parts. Over the columns
are the architrave, frieze, and cornice, all with the parts in
like manner doubled and sculptured in various fancies, but
more particularly with the arms of the Medici, and with
foliage. Between these and other cornices constructed for
another range of windows, is a long inscription, beautifully cut
in marble; while between the four columns, and forming the
ceiling of the chapel, is a canopy of marble, richly carved
and decorated with enamels, prepared by the action of fire,
and with mosaics of various fancies in gold, and precious
stones. The pavement is formed of porphyry, serpentine,
vari-coloured and other marbles, and stones of price, distri-
buted and arranged in very beautiful order: the chapel is
enclosed within a railing of bronze, above which are chan-
deliers, fastened into an ornamental frame-work of marble,
which makes a most admirable finish to the bronze railing
and the chandeliers : the door which closes the chapel is also
of bronze, and is very well executed. Piero left commands
to the effect that the chapel should be surrounded by lights,
arranged in thirty lamps of silver, and this was done ; but
as these lamps were broken up during the siege, our lord the
Duke gave orders many years since that they should be re-
placed, and the greater part of them are already made, the
work being still in progress; but in the meantime there has
never ceased to be the same number of lights kindled, thirty
namely, as was commanded by Piero, although the lamps have
* The marble font in the church of San Giovanni at Siena, is a work
of this artist, who gave the design for the palace erected at Bologna by
Sante Bentivoglio, in the year 1460.—Ed. Flor. 1846-9.