With the story of the Annunciation, likewise, on the base, wherein was
the Virgin supported by many little Angels, with one among them who was
shown scattering a beautiful vase of flowers over a vast multitude that
stood there in supplication; representing the innumerable graces that
are seen bestowed daily by her intercession on the faithful who with
devout zeal commend themselves to her. In the other scene, in the great
picture that came in the passage below, were the same S. Filippo and the
seven above-mentioned noble citizens throwing off the civil habit of
Florence and assuming that of the Servite Order, and shown all occupied
with directing the building of their beautiful monastery, which is now
to be seen in Florence, but was then without the city, and the venerable
and most ornate Church of the Annunziata, so celebrated throughout the
whole world for innumerable miracles, which has been ever since the head
of that Order; with the inscription, which said:
SEPTEM NOBILES CIVES NOSTRI IN SACELLO NOSTRAE URBIS, TOTO NUNC
ORBE RELIGIONIS ET SANCTITATIS FAMA CLARISSIMO, SE TOTOS
RELIGIONI DEDUNT ET SEMINA JACIUNT ORDINIS SERVORUM D. MARIAE
VIRG.
There remain the two facades which formed as it were arms, as has been
told, to the straight limb of the cross. These were smaller than those
already described, which was caused by the narrowness of the two streets
that begin there; wherefore, since less space came to be left for the
magnificence of the work, in order consequently not to depart from the
due proportion of height in their much smaller size, with much judgment
the arch which gave passage there had on either side not a niche but a
single column; over which rose a frieze in due proportion, in the centre
of which was a painted picture that crowned the ornamentation of that
facade, but not without an infinity of such other embellishments,
devices, and pictures as were thought to be proper in such a place. Now,
that whole structure being dedicated to the glory and power of the true
Religion and to the memory of her glorious victories, they chose the two
most noble and most important victories, won over two most powerful and
particular adversaries, human wisdom namely, under which are comprised
philosophers and heretics, and worldly power: and on the part facing
towards the Archbishop's Palace was seen depicted how S. Peter and S.
Paul and the other Apostles, filled with the divine spirit, disputed
with a great number of philosophers and many others full of human
wisdom, some of whom, those most confused, were seen throwing away or
tearing up the books that they held in their hands, and others, such as
Dionysius the Areopagite, Justinus, Pantaenus, and the like, were coming
towards them, all humble and devout, in token of having recognized and
accepted the Evangelic truth; with the motto in explanation of this,
which said: NON EST SAPIENTIA, NON EST PRUDENTIA. In the other scene
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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