on by the masters who may have to build it, since practice teaches us by what methods to proceed.”
When Filippo had written the above, he repaired in the morning to the tribunal, and gave his paper to the Syndics and Wardens, who took the whole of it into their consideration; and, although they were not able to understand it all, yet seeing the confidence of Filippo, and finding that the other architects gave no evidence of having better grounds to proceed on,—he moreover showing a manifest security, by constantly repeating the same things in such a manner that he had all the appearance of having vaulted ten Cupolas;— the Syndics, seeing all this, retired apart, and finally resolved to give him the work: they would have liked to see some example of the manner in which he meant to turn this vault without framework, but to all the rest they gave their approbation.[1] And fortune was favourable to this desire: Bartolommeo Barbadori having determined to build a chapel in Santa Felicita, and having spoken concerning it with Filippo, the latter had commenced the work, and caused the chapel, which is on the right of the entrance, where is also the holy water vase (likewise by the hand of Filippo),[2] to be vaulted without any framework. At the same time he constructed another, in like manner, for Stiatta Ridolfi, in the church of Santo Jacopo sopr’ Arno; that, namely, beside the chapel of the High Altar; and these works obtained him more credit than was given to his words. The Consuls and wardens feeling at length assured, by the writing that he had given them, and by the works which they had seen, entrusted the Cupola to his care, and he was made principal master of the works by a majority of votes. They would nevertheless not commission him to proceed beyond the height of twelve braccia, telling him that they desired to see how the work would succeed, but that if it proceeded as successfully as he
- ↑ In a deliberation extracted from the Books of the Works, and reproduced by Nelli in his description of this cathedral, by which we find the assertion that the cupola was constructed without frame-work fully confirmed; and wherein we read the following, among other remarks relating to the mode of its erection:—“And let large bricks also be made, weighing from twenty-five to thirty pounds each, and not more.” —Masselli.
- ↑ This chapel afterwards belonged to the Counts Capponi, but the Cupola was removed in the last remodernization of the building.— Schorn.
