a catafalque
of wood in the shape of a pyramid, and on this they placed the statue of
Giovanni himself on horseback, larger than life, made by the hand of
Jacopo with much judgment and invention. For he, in order to execute
this work, discovered a method of making the skeletons of the horse and
of the figure which had never been used up to that time--namely, with
pieces of wood and planking fastened together, and then swathed round
with hay, tow, and ropes, the whole being bound firmly together; and
over all there was spread clay mixed with paste, glue, and shearings of
woollen cloth. This method, truly, was and still is better than any
other for such things, for, although the works that are made in this
fashion have the appearance of weight, none the less after they are
finished and dried they turn out light, and, being covered with white,
look like marble and are very lovely to the eye, as was the said work
of Jacopo. To this it may be added that statues made in this fashion and
with the said mixtures do not crack, as they would do if they were made
simply of pure clay. And in this manner are made to-day the models for
sculpture, with very great convenience for the craftsmen, who, by means
of these, have ever before them the patterns and the true measurements
of the sculptures that they make; and for this method no small
obligation is owed to Jacopo, who is said to have been its inventor.

After this work, Jacopo made in Siena two panels of lime-wood, carving
the figures in them, with their beards and hair, with so great patience
that it was a marvel to see. And after these panels, which were placed
in the Duomo, he made some prophets in marble, of no great size, which
are in the facade of the said Duomo; and he would have continued to
labour at the works of this building, if plague, famine, and the
discords of the citizens of Siena had not brought that city to an evil
pass; for, after having many times risen in tumult, they drove out
Orlando Malevolti, by whose favour Jacopo had enjoyed creditable
employment in his native city. Departing then from Siena, he betook
himself by the agency of certain friends to Lucca, and there, in the
Church of S. Martino, he made a tomb for the wife, who had died a short
time before, of Paolo Guinigi, who was Lord of that city; on the base of
which tomb he carved some boys in marble that are supporting a garland,
so highly finished that they appeared to be of flesh; and on the
sarcopha