Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/519

Rh   pieque celebraverint viserintve, temporis luendis peccatis suis debiti septem annos totidemque quadragesimas apostolica remisit auctoritate. A.M.CCCC.XLII. ” In like manner Cosimo commanded the noviciate of Santa Croce to be constructed after the designs of Michelozzo, with the chapel of the same, and the entrance which leads from the church to the sacristy, and which communicates with the noviciate, as well as with the stair-case of the dormitory. These works, whether as regards their beauty of form, convenience, or decorations, are not inferior to any of the buildings, whatever their character, erected by the truly magnificent Cosimo de’ Medici, or which were carried into execution by Michelozzo. Among other particulars, was the door leading from the church to the above-named portions of the fabric, which the master executed in the grey stone called macigno, and which was much commended for its novelty, and for the beauty of its decorations; since it was at that time but little the custom to imitate the good manner of the ancients, as Michellozzo did in that case. Cosimo de’ Medici also caused the in Mugello, to be constructed by the advice and after the plans of Michelozzo, who gave it the form of a fortress, surrounded by trenches: be likewise proceeded to lay out farms, and make roads about the domain, while he further planted gardens, constructed fountains,with groves around them, and made aviaries, with all the other requisites to a complete country residence. At the distance of two miles from the palace, and in a place called the, Cosimo completed the erection of a convent, for the barefooted monks of St. Francis; this he also confided to the care of Michelozzo, and a very beautiful work it is. At, in like manner, Michelozzo executed various improvements; as he also did at the palace of , which was a rich and magnificent building, whither Michelozzo conducted the water for the fountain which we now see there. For Giovanni, the son of Cosimo