Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/523

Rh not been of silver since the period of their destruction. To these ornaments Pagno added an immense lily, formed of copper, and proceeding from a vase which is placed on the angle of the painted and gilded cornice of wood, whereby the lamps are supported. But this cornice is not suffered to uphold so great a weight alone, the whole being sustained by two branches of the lily, which are of iron, painted green, and which being fixed into the angle of the marble cornice, support the other branches; these last are of copper, and hang freely suspended in the air. This work was certainly executed with judgment, and displays invention, wherefore it deserves to be much commended as a fanciful and beautiful thing. Beside the chapel here described, a second was built on the side towards the cloister, which now serves as a choir for the monks. The windows of this last-named chapel receive their light from the court, and illuminate not only the chapel itself, but, standing opposite to two similar windows, they also give light to the room containing the small organ which is beside the marble chapel. On the wall of this choir is a large press or awning, in which the silver vessels of the Nunziata are kept. On all parts of the building and on all these ornaments are to be seen the arms and devices of the Medici. Without the chapel of the Nunziata and opposite to it, the same master made a large chandelier in bronze, five braccia high: the holy water font of marble at the entrance of the church is likewise by his hand, as is a figure of San Giovanni in the centre of the building, which is a very beautiful work. Pagno also executed a half-length Madonna in marble, which was placed above the table or counter where the monks sell