some works of considerable merit, as well in sculpture as architecture. The same thing occurred in Florence, after the works of Arnolfo and Niccola had appeared ; the latter, while the little church of the Misericordia on the Piazza of San Giovanni was in progress of erection after his plans, was further occupied with a group in marble, representing the Virgin, between St. Dominick, and another saint, which may still be seen on the façade of the church.[1]
It was in the time of Niccola that the Florentines began to demolish the numerous towers, built of old, in a most barbarous style, in all parts of the city, that the people might suffer less in the contests perpetually arising between the Guelfs and Ghibelines, or perhaps for the greater security of the state itself. But the tower called Guardamorto,[2] appeared to them to present extreme difficulty in its demolition, the walls being of such thickness that they would not yield to the pickaxe, the height also being very great. This tower stood on the Piazza San Giovanni, and Niccola cut through one of its sides at the foot of the building, and supported it meanwhile by wooden props, of a braccio and a half high ; to these supports he then set fire, and when they were consumed, the tower fell of itself into almost total ruin. This was considered so ingenious, and so useful a method, that it has since become in a manner customary ; for when it is found needful to destroy an edifice, the work is readily done by these means. Niccola was present when the first foundation of the cathedral of Siena was laid, and drew the plan of the church of San Giovanni in the same city[3]. Having then returned to Florence, in the same year that the Guelfs recovered the city, he there designed the church of the Holy Trinity, with the convent of the Nuns of Faenza, since destroyed to make way for the citadel. He ras then recalled to Naples, but un-
- ↑ The old Misericordia is here meant, now a part of the Bigallo. The Madonna we still see there is in a very good manner, but not from the hand of Niccola : it is attributed, and probably with more truth, to Andrea Pisano. — Maselli.
- ↑ So called, because it was customary to watch or guard the dead, who were to be buried in the church of San Giovanni, for a certain number of hours, in a room of this tower.— Ed. Flor. 1846.
- ↑ A manifest error, since the cathedral of Siena was founded at least a century before Niccola was born.— Schorn.
