182 ARCHITECTURE. 
architectural taste and progress of the several nations. We have included 
in the list several buildings which according to their plans belong to an 
earlier period, but were finished, rebuilt, or decorated in the present; for 
instance such churches as Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. 
1. CuurcHES AND CHAPELS. 
A. Italy. 
The number of churches built in Italy during the last three centuries is 
astonishing, and an adequate descriptjon of them would fill volumes. We 
have, therefore, selected some of them as representatives of the changes 
and progress of the artin Italy, and will describe them in chronological | 
order. 
1. Sawra Marta pet Fiore in Fiorence. To the largest buildings of the 
new Greek style belongs this church, or the cathedral of Florence, which 
was commenced in 1298 upon the site where the old church Santa Reparata 
had stood. Although some regard Arnolfo di Cambio de Cola as the 
architect, yet Vasari has proved that Arnolfo da Lapo, a German, made the 
design of the church, of which pl. 49, fig. 6, gives the ground plan, and pl. 
45, fig. 6, the rear view. The ground plan forms a Latin cross, and con- 
sists of a middle aisle, two low side aisles, the choir under the dome, and 
the transept which intersects the choir. After Arnolfo’s death the work 
advanced slowly and under the following architects: Giotto da Vespignano, 
Taddeo Gaddi, Andrea Orsagna, Filippo di Lorenzo, Brunelleschi, who 
added the no less artistic than beautiful dome, and finally Baecio di Agnolo, 
from 1547-74, who completed it. Arnolfo da Lapo had neither left 
sufficient drawings for the dome nor for the centring ; consequently in the 
beginning of the 15th century, when it was necessary to vault the domes, 
no one knew how to do it. Brunelleschi made sketches for the work, but 
was unheeded until in 1420 he was elected architect. He completed this 
gigantic work in 14 years (1434) and began also in 1437 the lantern, 
which was not completed until 1456, twelve years after his death. ; 
The middle aisle is 50 feet broad between the pillars, and the side aisles 
27 feet. The pillars are 8 feet thick; the side walls the same thickness. 
The whole length of the church is 448 feet, and the middle aisle is 129 feet 
high. The height of the pillars to the commencement of the connecting 
arches is 46 feet, to the commencement of the cross-vault 91 feet, to the 
vertex of the connecting arches 79 feet. The pillars and vaults are of hard 
grey sandstone. The exterior is faced with white, black, and green marble 
in panels, and around the roof of the dome runs a very beautiful marble 
gallery. The octagonal cupola is raised over the middle of the cross 264 
feet above the church floor. Its own height is 99 feet, 6 imches, and its 
diameter is 139 feet. The summit of the cross upon the lantern is 361 feet 
above the floor. The area occupied by the building is 83,988 square feet, and 
is to that of St. Peter’s as 1: 2.31. The whole cathedral and the cupola are 
accessible by stairs, and in two main pillars there are vestries. The floor is 
182 
