such a pitch, that no one marvels at them
although they are rather divine than human, and those who make the
most praiseworthy efforts may consider themselves fortunate, if,
instead of being praised and admired, they escape censure, and even
disgrace. The portrait of Cimabue by the hand of Simone of Siena may
be seen in the chapter-house of S. Maria Novella, executed in profile
in the picture of the Faith. The face is thin the small beard is
somewhat red and pointed, and he wears a hood after the fashion of
the day, bound gracefully round his head and throat. The one beside
him is Simone himself, the designer of the work, who drew himself
with the aid of two mirrors placed opposite each other, which have
enabled him to draw his head in profile. The soldier in armour
between them is said to be Count Guido Novello, lord of Poppi. In
concluding this life I have to remark that I have some small things
by Cimabue's hand in the beginning of a book in which I have
collected drawings by the hand of every artist, from Cimabue onwards.
These little things of Cimabue are done like miniatures, and although
they may appear rather crude than otherwise to modern eyes, yet they
serve to show to what an extent the art of design profited by his
labours.

Arnolfo di Lapo, Florentine Architect.

In the preface to these lives I have spoken of some edifices in the
old but not antique style, and I was silent respecting the names of
the artists who executed the work, because I did not know them. In
the introduction to the present life I propose to mention some other
buildings made in Arnolfo's time, or shortly before, the authors of
which are equally unknown, and then to speak of those which were
erected during his lifetime, the architects of which are known,
either because they may be recognised through the style of the
buildings, or because there is some notice of them in the writings
and memorials left by them in the works done. This will not be beside
the point, for although the buildings are neither beautiful nor in
good style, but only very large and magnificent, yet they are none
the less worthy of some consideration.

In the time of Lapo, and of Arnolfo his son, many buildings of
importance were erected in Italy and outside, of which I have not
been able to find the names of the architects. Among these are the
abbey of Monreale in Sicily, the Piscopio of Naples, the Certosa of
Pavia, the Duomo of Milan, S. Pietro and S. Pet