Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/190

182 tacles exhibited on these occcasions, that so some memorial of them may remain to posterity. First, then, the Piazza of San Gio vanni was covered in with blue cloth, on which were sewn lilies of great size, made of linen tinted yellow; in the midst were large circles, also formed of linen and ten braccia in extent, whereon the Arms of the People and Commune of Florence, with those of the Chiefs of the Guelphic Council and others, were displayed; and all around, from the edges of the before-mentioned canopy, which, large as is the Piazza of San Giovanni, yet covered it entirely over, were suspended banners, also of cloth, with various devices painted on them; the Arms of the different Courts and Guilds, for example, with Lions, which are one of the ensigns of that city. This canopy, or covering thus made, was raised about twenty braccia above the ground, and was supported by very strong ropes attached to numerous iron stancheons, which are still to be seen around the church of San Giovanni, in the façade of Santa Maria del Fiore, and in the different houses which surround that Piazza. Between one rope and another also ran cords which assisted to support the canopy; and the latter was so carefully provided, more particularly towards the extremities, with ropes, cords, linings, and safeguards of every kind, that nothing better could possibly be imagined. But what is more, every thing was arranged with so much care, that although the wind is always very powerful in that place, as every one knows, and frequently lifted and swelled the canopy greatly, yet it never deranged or injured it in any manner. This vast covering was formed of five portions, that it might be the more easily managed; but when it was put up, these divisions were so well fastened and secured together, that they seemed to be of one piece only. Three portions covered the space between San Giovanni and Santa Maria del Fiore; and in the middle portion, which was opposite to the principal doors, were the above described circles, with the Arms of the Commune. The two other divisions covered the remaining space, one towards the Misericordia, and the other towards the Canonicate and the Hall of the Wardens of San Giovanni.

With respect to the Clouds, which were made of various kinds and wdth different inventions by the several Brotherhoods, they were generally managed in the following man-