Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 6, 2025
The richest patrons of S. Maria Novella corresponding to the Medici at S. Lorenzo and the Bardi at S. Croce were the Rucellai, whose palace, designed also by the wonderful versatile Alberti, we have seen. The interior of S. Maria Novella is very fine and spacious, and it gathers and preserves an exquisite light at all times of the day.
He had never yet done an act of murderous cruelty even to the smallest animal that could utter a cry, but at that moment he would have been capable of treading the breath from a smiling child for the sake of his own safety. "What does this mean, Melema?" said Bernardo Rucellai, in a tone of cautious surprise.
He just let his eyes fall and laid the lute on the table with apparent ease; but his fingers pinched the neck of the lute hard while he governed his head and his glance sufficiently to look with an air of quiet appeal towards Bernardo Rucellai, who said at once "Good man, what is your business? What is the important declaration that you have to make?"
While the archbishop and the doctors were debating, a plot was hatching in the Rucellai Gardens. It was here that the Florentine Academy now held their meetings.
As it was, Tito felt sure that some party purposes were to be furthered by the excellent flavours of stewed fish and old Greek wine; for Bernardo Rucellai was not simply an influential personage, he was one of the elect Twenty who for three weeks had held the reins of Florence.
Returning from Pisa to Florence, he wrought there a panel containing a man and a woman, nude and of the size of life, which is to-day in the Palla Rucellai Palace. Then, not feeling at ease in Florence, and stimulated by his affection and love for art, he determined to go to Rome, in order to learn and to surpass others; and this he did.
Here, day by day, he beheld the "Last Judgment" of Orcagna, the enthroned figures in the Spanish Chapel, and the solemn blue Madonna, now in the Capella Rucellai, with its little figures of prophets on the frame that are already almost Michael Angelesque.
The Rucellai chapel, behind the palace, is in the Via della Spada, and the key must be asked for in the palace stables. It is in a shocking state, and quite in keeping with the traditions of the neighbourhood, while the old church of S. Pancrazio, its neighbour, is now a Government tobacco factory.
Meanwhile Palla Rucellai was pressing him to finish his altar-piece, of which mention has been made above, and Giuliano resolved to take Michelagnolo one day to see it.
On some of the rugged masses of masonry grew large hoary tufts of the strange roccella or orchil-weed, which yields the famous purple dye with which, in all likelihood, the robes of the Cæsars were coloured and which gave wealth, rank, and name to one princely Italian family, the Rucellai.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking