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Show Art in Sunny Florence Masterpieces of Sculptors and Artists Abound in That Facooia City Church of Or San Michele f.ne Specimen. (Bpeelel Correal tilenre.) . fKKl'KNT criticism on i the works of the paint-er paint-er llotticelll Is that which represents them as being filled with the mod) rn spirit, and sug-gertlve sug-gertlve of tho Inquietude Inquiet-ude and reatleaa. unexplained unex-plained mental activity which arc characterla-tlc characterla-tlc of our times. In a certain sense such might be set down as a quality of Florentine art. It Is as strong In Its appeal to the sense of beauty and harmony an when It first, gladdened the eye of the people. The abundance and high quality of the art of the city of Florence In the 11th and 10th and 16th centuries are the surprise of modern mod-ern laltors. ' Dnnatello, It has been said, was an arti.'t In every sense of the word, because be-cause he trarslated Into marhle, clay, oi bronxo, the man, the wholo man, that be wished to dep'ct. It waa In a niche of Or Ban Michele that bo planted plant-ed firmly on hla feet that young, strong, darlni: cavalle, St. Uvorgo, who was the patron of the Armorers (Caratzal). The niche has now a copy In bronte of the original marble, which has been transferred to the Ilargello or National Muacum, on the plea that the weather waa spoiling It. Ulnce the year 1418, until 1K87, that Is to say 471 years, It stood In Its niche on the church exposed to tbe the flgurca play a part la slls-; slls-; others that It represents the st rj . f the Maccabees. On the right ! sling on his throne talking to a atrV,r; on the left two horsemen, ou-nid ami tho other young, and a t'tsi of Cupid; In the center Is a sttte) to which seven men are at-t at-t M. and they are surrounded by dr". In the upper part of this center, ov" Die heads of tho burning men, Is Juiattr riuvlua In a cloud from which rait (csrenda upon the men at the Itska. ' Aha t this time Balvl llorgherlnl Willi houan and took to wife Mar-ib'Tto Mar-ib'Tto Acclajoll. The bridal chamber ai l cpared for so worthy a lady, and tais msntleplcre was msdo. with tnalj othnr artistic works, for Its sdonment. The carving In black wal-tittss wal-tittss tho work of the sculptor Barrio Bar-rio fAgnolo; tho front of the great ekiujis chests "Cassnnl" were psiittd by no leas a master than An-tV4cl An-tV4cl Parto. And others only less rel'tmted than the e worked on the (uratare and walls of this houso. f'tliig tho siege of Horcnre, In 162 t ttalvl llorgherlnl, Margherlta'a but bid, was kept away in l.ucca. and a; the wlte i le ssfety of the home drpoded. Francis I., King of France, had i passion for Itnltsn art, and his ri)-nilno agent, (llovannl Ilattlata Mel I Palla. ihimpht to curry favor with tho King uy obtaining tho con- CHURCH OF OR 6AM MICHELE. winds and the rains without very great damngo. You come across the work of Dona-tollo Dona-tollo In several places In Florence; Id the exquisitely tender work of bis In the gray green stone "pletra Serena" In the Annunciation of Santa Croce; In atatuea In the cathedral and In busts In various places, and In the Church of San l-orenio. Perhaps his crucifix In Santa Crocs Is one of his. most Interesting works. It Is a wooden crucifix, and It bas gone down tbe stream of history surrounded surround-ed by a special Interest. Ikmutollo's friend Brunelleschl, called In to see It, said that Donatello bad put a peasant a contadlno on tbe cross Instead of Christ "Take some wood then," said Donatello, Irritated, "and try to make one yourself." Brunelleschl did so, and one day Invited In-vited Donatello, who had been purchasing pur-chasing things for his dinner, to come ti his studio. When Donatello saw Brunellesrhl's crucifix that which Is now In the Church of Santa Maria Novella No-vella he opened his arms In admiration admira-tion and surprise, and let fall tbe eggs and other things that be had bought for bis dlnnor. "It Is Indeed given to you to carve Chrlsts." be said In hla generous way, "and to me to make contadlnl!" A strange story Is suggested by the chimney piece that stands In the second sec-ond hall of sculpture In tbe Ftargello museum. As a rule a chimney piece la more practical than artistic, this one Is an exception. It Is the work of Benedetto Itovettano, and dates from about the year lOtiO. It la carved In the brownish green stone found In the neighborhood of Florence, and was made for the house of Balvl llorKherlnl, and the artist who had then Juat come to Florence, was of great proinlao, and his col-leagues col-leagues said of hlin Hint "marble becomes be-comes flexible as laee work In hla bands." Bcrolla and trophies of artua .11 relief and flgutea adoru Its sides and frieze. ime declare that the subject In sets of the algnorlna to purchase the boiiherliil treasures. Xfli"! he presunlnl himself before Mutilisrlta on this business the Irate lailf said: ' You are a bad man. Metier Olovan Bnttlsta, vile broker thai ou arc, to despoil tho homes of gentlemen and to rou the city of the l. jlwt and most revered treasures to tsuiry the land of rt rangers and our tlitmles." Aid. hor anger Increasing, she declare! de-clare! she would dcftiud ber furniture with tier life blood, If need were, and she sdded: "Leave tbe bouse with your rlllaules, Olovan Battista, and It " " ' " j h ! !. ma Famous Status of Dante. go 0 thoae who seat you and say that I will not hi ve a single thing moed. and If they want to niulte presents pres-ents to King Francis, let them deanoll tcelr own houses and never dare you to enter this door aisuln!" |