Identifier: chambersencyclop09lond (find matches)
Title: Chambers's encyclopaedia; a dictionary of universal knowledge
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Publisher: London Edinburgh : W. & R. Chambers, Limited Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott Company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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catbedial, one of thefinest examples of (hiIImc work in Italy. It wasbegun early in the 13lli century ; in 13:59 it wasintendeil to build a vastly larger church, of whichthe existing cathedral shoubl have been only onetransept. But after the plague of 1348 the ideawivs abandoned, and only ruined walls indicate theambitious design. The magnilicent west front of 440 SIENNA SIERRA LEONE three arches was not fiiiisheil until 1380 ; it is partlyjvointeil, partly ronnilarcheil, and is enriched withred, white, and Ijlack marbles, ^ilclinj;, and manysculptnres. A fire did considcralile daniajje to theexterior in 1890. A lofty scjuare campanile standson the south side. The art treasures of the interioremlirace the wonderful octagonal pulpit hy NiccoloPisano (1208), siniil.ar to the one at Pis^a; theniarhle mosaic floor of the cathedral, from designsby Buoninsej;na ami Heccafnmi ; the series offrescoes commemorative of the life of Pope Pius II.,by Piuturicchio, in the Piccolomini Library, where
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Cathedral at Sienna. also are preserved several choir books s))lendidlyilluminated by Siennese artists ; the celebrated fcmt(1428), with bas-reliefs by Ponatello, Delia Quereia,and other sculptors, in the diurch of San tliovanni,situated beneath the cathedral. The churches ofSant Agostiuo, the Servites, San Donuuico, andsome others contain pictures by Soiloma, Matteodi Giovanni, and otlier Siennese artists. The preatlyvenerated church of St Catharine (;.v., a nativeof this city) stands on the site of her former dwell-ing-house ; and not far aw.ay is the fountain ofFoiitebranda, celebrated by Dante. Tlic nninici)ialpalace, a magnificent edifice of brick in the PointedGothic style, begun in 12S8 and finished in 1.300, isadorned on the exterior by a lofty tower (1325),and contains numerous paintings by Siennese .artists.There are several noble palaces, as the Piccolomini,Tolomei, Monte di^ Iaschi, Loggia del P.i;ia, somedating from the 13th century, and some now ;iut tovarious ))uldic us

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