Character of The Floren tines are polite, industrious, temperate, active,. economical and of courteous bearing; and though talkative and sometimes satirical, we must account them sweet withal and of amiable disposition. Moreover, in Boccardo's Italian 'Encyclopedia,' their city of flowers that dis places, according to tradition, a field of lilies, is described as the pleasantest in all Italy.° See the study of this subject in the general article ITALY, with its subdivi sions.
Manufactures of wool, silk and wood, together with goldsmith's work and the agricultural products of the fertile valley of the Arno, in days of old enriched Florentine merchants; and the value of the chief materials of commerce was enhanced by the touch of that fine artistic hand distinguishing Florentine craftsmen. Commerce approximated art. In recent years the tendency has become apparent to specialize strictly art products and to °manu factures them on a large commercial scale. Art is tending toward shrewd commercializa tion, though its splendid traditions are still traceable in such minor works as the modern mosaics, the wood-carvings and stained glass. Other products, also noteworthy, are jewelry, silk and porcelain.
The estimated number of in habitants of the commune of Florence was given as 242,147 on 1 Jan. 1915. Accordingly
it ranked as seventh among the cities of Italy in respect to population, being exceeded by Naples, Milan, Rome, Turin, Palermo and Genoa.
Berenson, B., 'The Floren tine Painters of the Renaissance' (3d ed., New York 1909) ; Brinton, S., 'The Medusa of Flor ence> -(London 1908) ; Cruttwell, M., 'A Guide to the Paintings in the Churches and Minor Museums of Florence' (London 1908) ; Fer rigni, M., (Madonne Florentine> (Milan 1912) ; Hare, A. John, 'Florence> (London 1884) ; Hawn, L., 'Literary Landmarks of Florence) (New York 1897) ; Machiavelli, N., 'The His tory of Florence, etc.' (London 1872) ; Ricci, C., 'Les Musics de Florence' (Works, Vol, XXIII, London 1906) ; Tarchiani, N., 'Firenze> (Bergamo 1915) ; Vasari, G., 'Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Archi tects'— invaluable for delineations of Florentine 16th century achievements (Medici Socy. ed., trans. De Vere, in 10 vols., London 1912-15) ; Vaughan, H. M., 'Florence and her Treasures> (London 1911); Young, G. F., 'The Medici' (London 1909) ; Yriarte, C. E., 'Florence: Its History, the Medici, the Humanists, Letters, Arts' (New York 1882).