sold or given by the above-named Salvestrine monks, made it over to Cosimo cle’ Medici, who on his part gave Mariotto 500 scudi for the same. Subsequently, and when Cosimo had in like manner bought from the brotherhood of the Spirito Santo the site whereon the choir now stands, the chapel, the tribune, and the choir were built under the direction of Michelozzo, and were completed and furnished at all points in the year 1439.[1] The library was afterwards erected, it was vaulted above and below, and had sixty-four bookcases of cypress wood filled with most valuable books.[2] The dormitory, which was in the form of a square, was next built, and finally the cloister was completed, with all the other truly commodious apartments of that convent, which is believed to be the most perfectly arranged, the most beautiful and most convenient building of its kind that can be found in Italy, thanks to the skill and industry of Michelozzo, who gave it up to its occupants entirely finished in the year 1452.[3] Cosimo de’ Medici is said to have expended 36,000 ducats on this fabric; it is added that while it was in course of construction, he gave the monks 366 ducats every year for their support. Of the erection and consecration of this temple certain details may be read in an epitaph (sic) of marble placed over the door leading into the sacristy, and which is in the following words.
“Cum hoc templum Marco Evangelista? dicatum magnificis sumptibus Cl. V. Cosmi Medicis tandem absolutum esset, Eugenius Quartus Romanus Pontifex maxima Cardinalium, Archiepiscoporum, Episcoporum, aliorumque sacerdotum frequentia comitatus, id celeberrimo Epiphanies die, solemni more servato, consecravit. Turn etiam quotannis omnibus, qui eodem die festo annuas statasque consecrationis ceremonias casti
- ↑ Both the tribune and choir were rebuilt in a different form in the year 1678. — Masselli.
- ↑ In this library was deposited the celebrated collection of Niccolo Niccoli, whose liabilities Cosimo had cancelled, on condition that he should have the free disposal of these books, in the arrangement of which he availed himself of the counsels of Thomas of Sarzana, afterwards Pope Nicholas V.— Schorn.
- ↑ This convent, although enlarged and in some parts modernized, still remains for the greater part as it was left by Michelozzo. So far Masselli. The Florentine commentators of 1846-9, adduce the authority of certain chroniclers of the convent, who declare the plan of their monastery to be due to Brunellesco, attributing the direction and execution only to Michelozzo; they further assign the year 1443 as that of the completion of the building, instead of 1452, as given by Vasari.
