Consumption and Trade of Art between Italy and England in the First Half of the Sixteenth Century.

P. 174: The site of the Cavalcanti and Bardi London house can be identified thanks to an indenture that was signed on 16 May 1532 between William Wetherall, provincial of the Augustinians in England, and George Brown, prior of the Austin Friars in London, on one hand, and Thomas Cromwell, the king's finance minister, on the other. The Lord Privy Seal and Master of Rolls was granted a 99 years lease of two messuages 'late of new builded, the forefront whereof abutteth upon the west end of the wall of the churchyard there where the pulpit now standeth... with two gardens and a great warehouse belonging to one of the messuages late in holding of John Cavalcante'. The document locates the twomessuages as lying 'within the precincte or close of the said house of Friars, abutting upon the lane there leading to the said Friars church in the east partie', and reiterates further that 'in one of the said messuages now on the tenure of Cromwell, John Cavalcanti, merchent of Florence, lately dwelt'. (note 52: ... the monastery occupied the area bordered on the west by Copthall Avenue, on the south by Throgmorton Street and on the north by London Wall. It should be noted that the priority hosted in its guest house the Emperor Charles V during his visit to London in 1522). The two plots gave a frontage of 155 ft 9 in. along the Throgmorton Street. (note 53: J. Schofeld, Medieval London Houses (New Haven and London 1994), no. 178, 228). It is evident that like (p.175) other members of the laity, Cavalcanti and Bardi rented their house from the prior (note 54: Archivio di Stato Firenze, Venturi Ginori Lisci 472, fol. lxxxxj: Addj XV di maggio £vj s vij d j pagato a frate edimond bellone priore degli agostiniani per pigione della Casa chabitiamo dj 5 mesi finiti allj xxv di marzo pagato porto constanti in somma di £7.12.6 a pa 79 porto conto di Cassa come in questo a 130). Description of the house with paintings and inventory (1532) 176-201. Illustration p. 185: The Cavalcanti chapel, Florence, S. Spirito. The chapel was erected in 1562 by Battista Cavalcanti following the wishes of his father Tommaso, who had died the previous year. As proudly announced by the inscription beneath the altar table, the chapel was built using expensive multicoloured marbles bought from Egypt (yellow and green) and England (the black marble used for the altar table and its feet).