THE GARDENS OF ITALY. 



lends a special interest to this villa. Niccolo Gaddi was a remarkable man. Duke Cosimo I 

 employed him as ambassador. In 1578 he was a Senator. A man of great learning and 

 artistic taste, his collections were only second to the Medici. His garden was very fine, and 

 he brought about the establishment of the Botanic Garden in Florence. He was twice 

 married, but his children died young, and the son of his sister Maddalena, who had married 

 a Pitti, became his heir, and added the name of Gaddi to his own. Niccolo Gaddi's will, 

 made five days before his death, on June i4th, 1591, left particular instructions as to the 

 completion of the house, naming three of the chief workmen as those who were familiar 

 with his intentions, and were to be employed in carrying them out: June 9th, 1591, 

 "I, Nicolo di Sinibaldo Gaddi, Cavalier de San Jacopo, make my testament as follows : Firstly, 

 I commend my soul to God and my body to be placed at St. Maria Novella in my place of 

 burial." Later on he continues : " And I also order that within two years of my death my 

 heirs shall have finished the Hall and the Loggia of the Palace in Camerata and removed the 



315. THE DRIVE OUT. 



well from the wall of the Hall. . . . Maestro Lorenzo who builds organs and Maestro 

 Zanobi, Grazio, Dio, mason and Maestro Fanelli stone-cutter are informed of my intentions, 

 therefore let them be carried out according as they may direct. And, in addition, let the arms 

 of Strozzi and Gaddi be placed at the corners of the said palace, and some memorial of him who 

 made and restored them, and I will that the men shall not be taken even for one day off the 

 work until all is finished." In 1537 Cardinal Gaddi was concealed here while conspiring 

 against the Medici before his flight to Bologna. Later on the villa, then called a Paradiso dei 

 Gaddi, passed to the Pitti and then to the Gondi, of which latter family several members 

 accompanied the Medic Queens to France. 



Thus on the walls of this Florentine villa hang portraits of a good French school representing 

 Cardinal de Retz and Paule de Gondi Duchesse de Lesdiguieres. There are many others as 

 \vell and also some fine old prints from Versailles of the Palace and Gardens. 



Large shields painted with the crossed battle maces of the Gondi hang on the walls of the 

 staircase. 



