I 



96 TRAVELS THROUGH 



I faw in the Grand Duke's gallery, the grinding 

 and polifhing of the ancient Greek marbles, and 

 the modern harder ftones (pietre dure) fuch as 

 agates and jafpers. Samples for cabinets and fine 

 tables of the Florentine marble may be had from 

 the journeymen, and at a good rate too, though 

 they afk enormous prices of the unexperienced 

 ftranger. They make here excellent mofaic-works, 

 called Interfeccatura, or Lavoro di commeffo ; which 

 confifts of figures of animals, flowers, and other 

 high-coloured objects, cut from coloured ftones, 

 ferruminated by a compofition of white wax and 

 pitch, and polifhed afterwards either into flat tables 

 or into bas reliefs. It is hard work, requiring 

 much time, and accordingly very dear, efpecially 

 figures in relief. 



In the Capella di San Lorenzo, are not only orna- 

 ments of this Lavoro d'lnterfeccatura \ but like- 

 wife of the fineft marbles, jafpers, and agates, in 

 large pieces, and compofed in the nobleft tafte. 

 The keeper of this majeftic chapel fells a fmall 

 printed account of the different antique and mo- 

 dern ftones employed in it. Even the Arm and 

 other Florentine rivers furnim fome fpecies of fine 

 horn-ftones and jafpers, which are ground in the 

 gallery. I referve for another time an opportu- 

 nity of fpeaking to you of the fine green and 

 violet fpotted Corfican marble , of the violet gra- 

 nite, 



