File:Florence and her treasures (1911) (14579701357).jpg

Identifier: florencehertreas00vaug (find matches)
Title: Florence and her treasures
Year: 1911 (1910s)
Authors: Vaughan, Herbert M. (Herbert Millingchamp), 1870-1948
Subjects: Art
Publisher: New York, The Macmillan Company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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he Grand-Dukes of Tuscany the square becameknown until 1859 as the Piazza del Gran-Duca, sincewhich date it has been re-named by its ancient title. Prominent on its southern side is the tall and elegantform of the Loggia dei Lanzi, or Loggia of Orcagna, asit is still popularly but erroneously called, although thebuilding was only begun in the year 1376, eight yearsafter Orcagnas death. The Loggia dei Lanzi (whichowes this name to the Swiss lanzi ox landsknechts of theMedicean Grand-Dukes, who were quartered here) con-sists of an arcade of four arches raised on a platformof five steps, and was built for the convenience of thePriori of the great palace close by. In style it is tran-sitional between Gothic and Renaissance architecture.From this roomy and lofty Loggia the decrees of theGovernment were read aloud to the Florentine peopleassembled in the piazza below, whilst on 7 April, 1498,it was chosen for the scene of Savonarolas ordeal by fire 252 <^1 a m ._ ~: -■ . ■ -• • i
Text Appearing After Image:
LOGGIA DEI LANZI 253 (cimento difuoco) with its unedifying circumstances andnegative results. The Loggia therefore may be truly de-scribed as forming an integral part of the great civic palaceitself, although it stands detached from it. Above thebroad arches are to be seen some medallions of singulargrace (completed between 1383 and 1387 by GiovannidAmbrogio and Jacopo di Piero), which represent theTheological and Cardinal Virtues. The roof with its or-nate arcading and parapet supports a broad platform, whichcan be entered from the corridor of the Uffizi PictureGallery. It possesses a fine view of the piazza and ofall Florence, and in former days was occasionally used bythe Grand-Ducal family and Court when pageants werebeing held in the square below. The entrance throughthe broad middle arch of the Loggia is flanked by twomarble lions rolling Medicean palle, the lion on the rightbeing antique and that on the left a copy of the seven-teenth century. The interior of the building with

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