It was at this time that the church of San Lorenzo, in Florence, was commenced by the inhabitants,[1] who had chosen the prior superintendent of the building. That personage made profession of much knowledge in that matter, and busied himself with architecture by way of pastime. The edifice was already commenced, with columns constructed of brick, when Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici, who had promised the inhabitants and the prior to build the sacristy and one of the chapels at his own expense, invited Filippo one day to dine with him. After conversing on various matters, Giovanni asked what he thought of the commencement made at San Lorenzo. Filippo was constrained by the entreaties of Giovanni, to give his opinion, and truth compelled him to point out many faults, the consequence of its being directed by a person who had, perhaps, more learning than practical experience in matters of that kind. Thereupon Giovanni inquired of Filippo if a better and more beautiful fabric could be devised, to which Filippo replied, “Without doubt, and I wonder that you, who are the chief of the undertaking, do not expend a few thousand crowns, and build such a church, with its proper appurtenances, as might be worthy of the place, and of the many noble families whose sepulchres are there. Moreover, if you were seen to commence the work, these families would then set about building their chapels to the very best of their ability, and the more readily, as knowing that no memorial remains of our existence but the walls, which bear testimony to those who erected them, hundreds or thousands of years before.” Encouraged by the words of Filippo, Giovanni determined to construct the sacristy, the principal chapel, and the whole body of the church, although seven families only were willing to aid in the building, the remainder not possessing the means. Those who took part in the work were the Rondinelli, Ginori, Dalla Stufa, Neroni, Ciai, Marignolli, Martelli and Marco di Luca, whose chapels were all to be made in the cross aisle. The sacristy was the first portion of the structure put in progress, and afterwards
- ↑ Rebuilt in the earlier part of the fifteenth century (about 1423), after having been destroyed by fire, as we are informed by Masselli, who follows Del Migliore. But Moreni affirms that to be a mistake, declaring the ancient building to have been in danger of falling, and therefore reconstructed. See also Gaye, ut supra, vol. i, pp. 546, 552, 557.
