Chapters 15 and 16 Summary

The war against Lucca slowed work significantly on the dome, since funds had to be sent to the war effort. The expensive remodel suggested by Filippo is rejected for less expensive iron tie rods. Fioravanti's model is finally destroyed because building can continue without it. Filippo is arrested for failing to pay his annual dues to the Masons Guild. This arrest is unusual, since many artisans were in arrears, so it is believed Filippo's arrest is arranged by a political party opposed to his patron, Cosimo de' Medici, who is in exile. Raynaldo Silvestri, one of the consuls of the Mason's Guild is responsible for his imprisonment, and the author wonders what role Lorenzo Ghiberti or Giovanni da Prato had in his arrest.

The wardens of the Opera come to his rescue; Raynaldo Silvestri is arrested, and a pro-Medici government is...