lumn of granite, standing entirely apart, there is a figure of Plenty, by Donato, in the stone called macigno forte, which is so well done, that it has always been field in the highest estimation by artists and all men of judgment in matters of art.[1] The column on which this figure stands was formerly in San Giovanni, where the remaining columns of granite which sustain the inner cornice are still in their places; the one in question was taken away and a fluted column was placed in its stead, on which there once stood a statue of Mars, erected in the centre of the temple; but this last was removed, when the Florentines were converted to the faith of Jesus Christ.[2] The same master, while still very young, executed a figure of the prophet Daniel, in marble,[3] for the façade of Santa Maria del Fiore; and at a later period he produced one of San Giovanni Evangelista seated; this figure is four braccia high, it is clothed in very simple vestments, and is much celebrated.[4] In the same place, at an angle of the building, on that side which faces the Via del Cocomero, is the figure of an old man, between two columns, which is executed more in the manner of the ancients, than is to be remarked in any other work by Donato; the head of this statue bearing the impress of the thoughts and cares which length of years bring to those who are exhausted by time and labour. Donato likewise executed for the same church the decorations of the organ, which stands over the door of the old sacristy, where are those figures, so boldly
- ↑ This figure being corroded by the action of the weather, was removed in 1721, to make way for one sculptured by Gio. Battista Foggini, which is still to be seen there.— Masselli.
- ↑ The column here mentioned was certainly not taken from San Giovanni; nor was that church at any time a temple of Mars. See Borghini, Discorsi. Migliore, Firenze Illustrati, etc.
- ↑ It is not now known where this figure is. Bottari erroneously speaks of it as placed within the church, being misled by the annotator to the Riposo of Borghini, who has taken the Ezekiel of an unknown author, for the Daniel of Donato.
- ↑ “Which of the four Evangelists was executed by Donatello it is difficult to ascertain,” remark the Florentine editors of 1849, “since all were removed on the destruction of the fagade in 1586, when they were placed in the four chapels of the principal tribune of the cathedral.” Masselli, who follows Richa, attributes the whole four to Donatello; but this the later Florentine commentators affirm to be a mistake, seeing that Niccolò d’Arezzo and Nanni d’Antonio took part in the execution of these works. See ante, the lives of these masters.
