Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/225

Rh diligence, to the study of architecture, believing that he should find this also useful to him at some future day; nor was he deceived in that expectation—the commune of Florence, having purchased the houses of several citizens, in the year 1355, for the purpose of extending their buildings and enlarging the piazza, caused various designs to be prepared, and Andrea was among the masters who offered their plans to the consideration of the commune. The proposed erections consisted of a building wherein the citizens might assemble during the winter, or in bad weather, for the arrangement of such affairs as they were accustomed to transact in the uncovered arcade, when the weather offered no impediment: and the commune determined to build a magnificent Loggia, near the palace, for that purpose, together with an edifice for the mint. Among the plans then presented by the best masters of the city, the one universally approved was that of Orgagna, and this the commune accepted, as being more extensive, magnificent, and beautiful, than any other. After his design, therefore, according to the determination of the signori and the commune, the grand Loggia of the piazza was commenced, on the foundations laid at the time of the duke of Athens, the building being diligently and carefully constructed of hewn stone. And on this occasion a method, new to those times, was introduced: the arches, namely, of the vault, instead of being pointed, as they had previously been, were turned in half-circles, after a new and muchlauded manner. The whole fabric was one of infinite grace and beauty; and was completed, under the direction of Orgagna, in a very short time. And if the builders had had the forethought to construct their work beside San Romolo, and had turned its back to the north, it would have been as useful to the whole city as it is beautiful. This they probably neglected to do, from the wish to have it close to the palace gate; but the consequence is, that during the winter no one can endure to remain in the Loggia, for the sharpness of the wind. Between the arches of the front, and among other