The relationship seems clear, as the forms are perfectly similar. The beasts and birds set in balancing pairs facing each other and repeated in an all-over pattern, as in a woven fabric, strongly suggest the Sicilian silks. Eug. Muentz in his work, "La Tapisserie," speaks of this evident relationship. The internal evidence of the design itself would be quite sufficient if we had no other means of tracing it. These two pavements are practically unique, as far as we are able to learn. They are marble inlay, the pattern having been cut out in a slab of white marble and pieces of black marble carefully fitted in to form the figure. This is not true mosaic, and differs essentially in design from the mosaic work of the same period which was derived from the Roman mosaics made up of small pieces of marble or other material. Most of the floor mosaics in Italy have suffered from wear and tear, and have in many cases been very poorly restored; but these two pavements appear to be in nearly their original condition. The design does not have the merit of belonging distinctively to the material in all cases, and might just as well be applied to wood parquetry as stone. In fact, it might be even more effective in this material if the colors were judiciously chosen. [Illustration: XXXIII. Portion of the Pavement in the Baptistery, Florence, Italy.] [Illustration: XXXIV. Portion of the Pavement in the Baptistery, Florence, Italy.] [Illustration: XXXV. Portion of the Pavement in the Baptistery, Florence, Italy.] [Illustration: XXXVI. Portion of the Pavement in the Baptistery, Florence, Italy.] [Illustration: XXXVII. Portion of the Pavement in the Baptistery, Florence, Italy.] XXXIII to XXXVII. PORTIONS OF THE PAVEMENT IN THE BAPTISTERY, FLORENCE, ITALY. One exception should be made to the remarks above in relation to true mosaic. The lower left-hand portion of plate XXXVI is without doubt made up of small pieces put together after the manner of the old Roman mosaics, and it is possible that the portion shown in the upper left-hand corner of the same plate is made in the same way. There are several parts of the floor laid in this manner, but they are distinctly secondary in interest to the inlaid portions. The pavement is divided irregularly by squares and rectangles, the portion especially rich in ornament being that between the door and the altar. The rectangular patterns are irregularly cut into by special pavements, placed before several of the monumental tombs in the walls. [Illustration: XXXVIII. Portion of the Pavement in the Church of San Miniato al Monte, Florence, Italy.] [Illustration: XXXIX. Portion of the Pavement in the Church of San Miniato al Monte, Florence, Italy.] [Illustration: XL. Portion of the Pavement in the Church of San Miniato al Monte, Florence, Italy.] XXXVIII to XL. PORTIONS OF THE PAVEMENT IN THE CHURCH OF SAN MINIATO AL MONTE, FLORENCE, ITALY.