lippo’s model for their own, which, when the latter perceived, he remarked, “The next model made by this personage will be mine altogether.” The work of Filippo was very highlypraised, with the exception, that, not perceiving the staircase by which the ball was to be attained, the model was considered defective on that point. The superintendants determined, nevertheless, to give him the commission for the work, but on condition that he should show them the staircase; whereupon Filippo, removing the morsel of wood which he had placed at the foot of the stair, showed it constructed as it is now seen, within one of the piers, and presenting the form of a hollow reed or blow-pipe, having a recess or groove on one side, with bars[1] of bronze, by means of which the summit was gradually attained. Filippo was now at an age which rendered it impossible that he should live to see the lanthorn completed; he therefore left directions, by his will, that it should be built after the model here described, and according to the rules which he had laid down in writing, affirming that the fabric would otherwise be in danger of falling, since, being constructed with the pointed arch, it required to be rendered secure by means of the pressure of the weight to be thus added. But, though Filippo could not complete the edifice before his death, he raised the lanthorn to the height of several braccia,[2] causing almost all the marbles required for the completion of the building to be carefully prepared and brought to the place. At the sight of these huge masses as they arrived, the people stood amazed, marvelling that it should be possible for Filippo to propose the laying of such a weight on the Cupola. It was, indeed, the opinion of many intelligent men that it could not possibly support that weight. It appeared to them to be a piece of good fortune that he had conducted it so far, and they considered the loading it so heavily to be a tempting of Providence.[3] Filippo constantly laughed at these fears, and having
- ↑ “Staffe”,otherwise rendered “rings”.
- ↑ The first stone of the lanthorn was laid in 1443, and was consecrated by Sant’ Antonio; the last was placed in 1461, and was consecrated by the Archbishop Giovanni Neroni, in the presence of the Chapter, with the Signoria and Gonfaloniere.— Moreni, Due Vite del Brunellesco, etc., p. 278, note.
- ↑ The original is “un tentare Dio”. I give our familiar English phrase, as perhaps less offensive in the letter, though equally senseless and impious in the spirit.
