20 LaCitadeSancta
The town strictly forbade unseemly activities there, especially rock fights
between groups of youths, because of possible damage to precious city mon-
uments.^32 Cities sought, in little ways, to protect the dignity of their Mother
Church. At the end of the century, the archpriest of the duomo at Modena
petitioned the city to purchase new clothing for Antonio, the poor fellow
charged with sweeping, trimming the lights, and acting as night watchman
in the duomo chapel of Saint Giminiano. The city was already providing for
two other regular custodians to be properly attired, ‘‘to the honor of Saint
Giminiano’’ and, of course, to the honor of Modena. They happily added
Antonio to their subvention.^33
The cathedral belonged as much to the city as to the bishop. Communes
monopolized its construction, reconstruction, and embellishment. In 1267 ,
the city fathers of Siena organized the Opera del Duomo, a board responsi-
ble for the material upkeep of their beloved Santa Maria. After first funding
the city’s vigil lamp before the altar of Mary, the fathers stipulated the offi-
cers, oaths of office, funding, and responsibilities of the board. By the 1290 s,
officials of the Opera were appointed directly by the Nine, the executive
committee of the commune. Twice yearly they requisitioned all draft animals
in the city for hauling marble to the construction at the duomo.^34 The city
provided food for laborers and protection for their beasts of burden.^35 Other
cities did likewise. In 1264 , Vicenza hired a supervisor for its cathedral and
established a yearly subsidy for its decoration and maintenance.^36 By 1286 ,
Pisa had in place for the cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore and its already
famous tower a system even grander in scale than that at Siena. When the
city named Giovanni Scorcialupo di Ser Ranieri director, they provided him
with a secretary, a lawyer, three servants, two horses, and a house.^37 So
important was his service that the city forbade him to engage in any other
work or business during his tenure.^38 Cities competed for famous architects,
painters, and sculptors. Modena had the good fortune to commission the
famous Tommaso of Fredo to carve the cathedral pulpit.^39 Pisa boasted one
of the greatest artists of the period, Giovanni di Nicola Pisano. The city
ensured his services ascapomaestroof Santa Maria by grant of a tax exemption
and a promise to fire any staff member of the Opera with whom he could
not get along.^40
- Vicenza Stat. ( 1264 ), 147 ; Pisa Stat.i( 1286 ), 1. 154 ,p. 263 , and Pisa Stat.ii( 1313 ), 1. 207 ,p. 221 ;
Florence Stat.ii( 1325 ), 3. 40 , pp. 202 – 3. - Modena Stat. ( 1306 / 7 ), 2 : 203 and 1 : 102. On this period, see Carmen Vicini,La caduta del primo
dominio estense a Modena e la nuova costituzione democratica del comune ( 1306 – 1307 )(Modena: n.p., 1922 ). - Siena Stat.i( 1262 ), 1. 6 – 13 , pp. 27 – 28 ; on draft animals, ibid., 1. 17 ,p. 30.
- Siena Stat.ii( 1290 ), 1. 507 – 10 , 1 : 319 – 20 ; ibid. ( 1297 ), 1. 57 – 62 , 1 : 85 – 87.
- Vicenza Stat. ( 1264 ), 199. It amounted to £ 10.
- Pisa Stat.i( 1286 ), 1. 154 , pp. 268 – 69 , 285.
- Pisa Stat.ii( 1313 ), 1. 207 , pp. 220 – 21 ; ibid. ( 1333 ), pp. 1269 – 74 , 1273.
39 .Annales Veteres Mutinenses ab Anno 1131 usque ad 1336 ,ed. Lodovico Antonio Muratori ( 1322 ),RIS
11 : 80. - Pisa Stat.i( 1275 ), p. 49 ; ibid. ( 1286 ), 1. 154 , pp. 273 – 74 ; Pisa Stat.ii( 1313 ), 1. 265 , pp. 261 – 62.