Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/459

Rh a perfection that it would else perhaps never have attained among the Tuscans.

In the year 1423, when the utmost rejoicing and festivity was prevailing in Florence, Filippo was chosen one of the Signori for the district of San Giovanni, for the months ot May and June; Lapo Niccolini being chosen Gonfalonier for the district of Santa Croce: and if Filippo be found registered in the Priorista as “di Ser Brunellesco Lippi”, this need not occasion surprise, since they called him so after his grandfather, Lippo, instead of “di Lapi”, as they ought to have done. And this practice is seen to prevail in the Priorista, with respect to many others, as is well known to all who have examined it, or who are acquainted with the custom of those times. Filippo performed his functions carefully in that office, and in others connected with the magistracy of the city, to which he was subsequently appointed, he constantly acquitted himself with the most judicious consideration. The two vaults of the Cupola were now approaching their close, at the circular window where the lanthorn was to begin, and there now remained to Filippo, who had made various models in wood and clay, both of the one and the other,in Rome and Florence, to decide finally as to which of these he would put in execution, wherefore he resolved to complete the gallery, and accordingly made different plans for it, which remained in the hall of the wardens after his death, but which by the neglect of those officials, have since been lost. But it was