g64 RESTORATION OF THE ART OP SCULPTURE, 1 



the ninth of October, which difference in the date 

 may be in fome meafure accounted for, by fuppofing 

 that the two relators followed different ftyles. 



CN THE RESTORATION OF THE ART OF SCULPTURE* 



Nicholas pisanus, who was bom at Pifa 



in Tufcany, about the commencement of the thir- 

 teenth century, was the firff reftorer of fculpture and 

 architecture from the ftate of decay into which they 

 were fallen. His merit Ihould be more known and 

 confeffed than it actually is. As my delign at prefent 

 is to conflder him only in the light of a fculptor, I lhall 

 add to the praife already bellowed on him as an archi- 

 tect by Vafari, but one fhort anecdote, which will 

 place his merits on that article beyond all doubt. The 

 delign and the execution of the church of Santa Tri- 

 nita at Florence are both by him. It was built in the 

 year 1250. Michael Angelo Buonaroti ufed to call it 

 his miftrefs [fua dama] ; and, whenever he Was at Flo- 

 rence, he feldom paffed by it without viliting it with 

 admiration % There reigns fo much judgment in the 

 difpolition, fo much fymmetry and limplicity in all its 

 parts,' fo much magnificence and fublimity in the 

 whole , that ikilful judges would fcarcely take it for a, 



* Cinellij k belteze della citta di Firenze, 1677. 



worfe 



