Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/514

500 of gold on a ground of blue. At the same time he caused the ceilings of other rooms, both on the upper and lower floors of the palace, to be constructed anew, while the old ones which had been formerly made there in the ancient manner, were covered. In a word, he gave to the whole building that perfection of completeness which is proper to such a palace. The water from the wells, moreover, he contrived to convey to the first floor, where, by means of a wheel, it could be attained more easily than was usually the case. For one defect only did the ingenuity of Michelozzo fail to discover a remedy: this was the public staircase, which, being ill-arranged from the beginning, and situated in an inconvenient place, was too steep, insufficiently lighted, and in all respects badly constructed, with stairs of wood from the first floor upwards. He nevertheless laboured to such effect that a flight of circular steps was formed at the entrance to the court. He also made a door, with pillars, of pietra forte, and very beautiful capitals, carved with his own hand. This door had, besides, a cornice and double architrave, of very good design, in the frieze of which he placed the arms of the commune. But, what was more, he made the whole staircase of pietra forte, up to the floor inhabited by the Signoria, and fortified it at the top and in the middle with a portcullis at each point, in case of tumults. At the summit of the stair he further constructed a door, which was called “the chain,” by which there constantly stood a doorkeeper, who opened or closed it, accordingly as he was commanded by those who ruled. Michelozzo also rendered the fabric of the Campanile more secure, by means of very strong iron girders, this building having cracked beneath the weight which is improperly distributed at that part, over the supports of the cross-beams, that is, on the side towards the Piazza. Finally, he so greatly improved, and so ably restored this palace, that he was highly commended by the whole city; and, in addition to other rewards, he was chosen one of the Collegio, which