_Piazza Strozzi. No. 9._
According to Litta this beautiful little palace was built in 1450 by
Agnolo degl’ Strozzi, son of Palla, surnamed Novello to distinguish
him from his father Palla, who died as Captain of the Guelph Party in
1377.[98] This statement is confirmed by an entry in the Dei MS. in the
State archives, kindly communicated to me by Dr. G. Gronau, which runs:
“1450. Agnolo, son of Messer Palla [Novello], who was son of Messer
Palla, built the palace on the square of the Strozzi, called ‘of the
three doors.’” Palla Novella was sent to Martin V. in 1423 to ask for
aid against the Duke of Milan who had taken Forli. But the Pope, who
had never forgotten the mocking rhyme of the Florentine street-boys,
refused, and Palla went to Naples, where he obtained the promise of
ships. On his return he was made Commissary of War. It must have been
about this time that he bought the Gondi houses and tower adjoining
Sta. Maria Ughi, for he was despatched on an embassy to Savoy soon
afterwards, and being waylaid on his return by Visconti was imprisoned
in Milan until the peace of Ferrara in 1428. His absence, and the high
rate of exchange consequent on the war, caused his bank to fail; and
he came back a sadly impoverished man. He must, however, have kept the
Gondi houses and re-made a certain fortune, as Herr v. Fabriczy cites
an entry in the _catasto_ of 1451 in the State archives: “All the
houses mentioned on the opposite page have been incorporated into one
house for my own usage,” and this is confirmed by a marginal note of a
clerk of the _catasto_. “All these houses are being arranged for him
[Palla] to dwell in, as Nicholo di Ciennj saw them being demolished in
order to make one house.”[99]
Michelozzi is generally credited with having designed the palace,
but Herr v. Fabriczy and Herr v. Geymüller agree in attributing the
beautiful courtyard and the upper floor to another hand, probably
Giuliano da Majano. When Michelozzi left Florence in 1460 nothing
is more likely than that he charged his friend and pupil Giuliano
to finish the building, which, according to the _catasto_ was done
in 1469. I have entered into these details because it has long been
a vexed question as to who built one of the most beautiful palaces
in Florence, now fast falling into ruin. For many years it was the
property of the Commune and has now been sold to Signor Chiari.