Identifier: cu31924024837159 (find matches)
Title: A stained glass tour in Italy
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Sherrill, Charles Hitchock, 1867-
Subjects: Glass painting and staining
Publisher: London, John Lane New York, The John Lane Company (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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zzo Vecchio ! A growing and a busy city isFlorence, and yet among the hurrying throng arefaces of the old types among whom the old-worldsetting of the streets helps us to picture certainof her ancient worthies. See! down that narrow,dark lane, stalks some stern-featured Dante, apoetic survival of the old Florence that existedbefore the new city burst into that broader lifewhich was symbolized by the sur^ng skywardsof the wondrous dome of Brunelleschi and of SantaCroce and Santa Maria Novella, the rival establish-ments of the Dominicans and the Franciscans. Danteand the men of his time were truculently satisfiedwith the Florence of their day, and pointed withcomplacence to the sturdy Baptistery lined withrange on range of rich mosaics, and to that unionof fairy grace and colour with trim strength, thebell tower that alone would have immortalizedGiotto. All these Florentines, be they of theolder conservative group, or of their successorswho looked forward with wider horizon, each and 82
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■^^ii^^^fc^i INTKRIOR OF SANTA MARIA NOVELLABare walls are not uncommon in Florentine churches. The glass in the distancewill be seen nearer at hand in the next picture. Florence several possessed that eager confidence which wasthe hall-mark of Florentine patriotism. Whateverthere was to be done would of course, said they,be accomplished, and the only useful thought wasthat expended on how to do it! Men couldalways be found, and easily, too. Had not aCimabue come forward to break the chains ofByzantine formalism that were felt to be fetteringart, and, when further progress was needed, hadhe not discovered a shepherds lad named Giotto,drawing sheep in a lifelike manner, theretoforeunknown! When the Baptistery had to beadorned with finer bronze doors than any rivalcity could show, did not there appear a youth ofeighteen, Lorenzo Ghiberti, of such mature geniusas to defeat many distinguished competitors ! Witha constant recurrence of such miracles of artisticproductivity, would any dou

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