It proves that whether or not Italy got her architects from Germany, Italian Masters were employed in Germany.
It proves that there was a guild in Florence, "Comitatus Florentiæ," to which Francesco Livii belonged, and that there was a _laborerium_ in Florence, in which Francesco, when a boy, had learned his art, and risen to the rank of Master. It proves, moreover, that the _laborerium_ was connected with the _Opera_.
Another meeting of the same _Opera_ on November 26, 1435, held to consider all the designs for the choir of the Duomo, marks this connection still more plainly.
"Nobiles viri Johannes Sylvestri de Popoleschis, Johannes Tedicis de Albizzis, Johannes ser Falconis Falconi, Jacobus Johannis de Giugnis, et Hieronymus Francisci dello Scarfa, Operarii dictæ Operæ, existentes collegialiter congregati in loco eorum residentiæ pro factis dictæ Opera utiliter peragendis, absque aliis eorum Collegis, et servatis servandis:
"Attendentes ad quandam Commissionem factam per eorum Offitium de ordinatione Altaris majoris dictæ Ecclesiæ, et Chori ipsius Ecclesiæ infrascriptis Civibus, et Religiosis Sacræ Theologiæ, Magistro Jacobo Grægorii del Badia Ordinis Fratrum Minorum, Magistro Sandro de Covonibus Converso Hospitalis Sanctæ Mariæ Novæ de Florentia, Francisco alterius Francisci Pierotii della Luna Nerio Gini de Capponibus egregio Medicinæ Doctori, Magistro Paulo M. Dominici, et Juliano Thomasii Gucci, omnibus Civibus Civitatis Florentiæ, et ad quemdam rapportum per eos factum coram eorum Offitio infrascriptæ continentiæ."[245]
Here follow the criticisms of this council on three designs for the choir: one by Filippo Brunelleschi; one by Nencio di Bartoluccio; a third by Magister Agnolo da Arezzo.
Observe that we have as master architects of the guild, a monk and a hospital warden, called on the Commission with the _Operai_, who were influential citizens, but not qualified Masters. This seems to throw a light on the word _colligantes_, "Magister comacinus cum colligantes suos," in the old laws of Rotharis. Would not the _colligantes_ mean the Consuls and _Operai_, members of the _Opera_ or administrative body in these great works of church-building, whom the _Magistri_ of the guild elected from the influential men of the city in which they were?