Another avenue into Florentine life in the mid 14th century (or any time period of course) is through the visual arts of the period. This is the reason I got mixed up with the history of art to begin with.  I’ve never regretted it.

The scene above is a detail from the fresco cycle by Andrea di Bonaiuto and his pupils in the Spanish Chapel at Santa Maria Novella. We can well imagine that this is how everyday Florentines dressed and behaved as they watch some spectacle taking place on the street below their home. I especially like the woman tending her pot of flowers; she’s my kind of girl.