Florence No. 3 / Firenze

Didron (1859) notes a monolithic hexagonal font made of marble by a pupil of Donatello; Didron dates it 1470 and gives a transcription of the inscriptions that accompany each of the six scenes: 1)Christ baptises John; 2)John baptises people; 3)John baptises Christ; 4)Christ baptises apostles; St. Sylvester baptises Constantin; 6)priest baptises children [NB: Didron (ibid.) expresses surprise at the first scene, which he then explains as God baptising John, initiating the sequence of the transmission of the power of baptism]. Text only for reference: "The present font, at which all children born in Florence of Roman Catholic parents, rich and poor, are alike baptized, was placed near the southern entrance in 1658. It may probably be the same which once stood where is now the Magdalene, and is at any rate very ancient. The reliefs around are well executed, and are either by Andrea Pisano, or by an artist of his school" [source: WALKS IN FLORENCE: CHURCHES, STREETS AND PALACES by SUSAN AND JOANNA -- FLORIN WEBSITE © JULIA BOLTON HOLLOWAY, AUREO ANELLO ASSOCIATION, 1997-2008 [http://www.florin.ms/hwalks2.html] [accessed 10 April 2008]