Frommer's Review
This was the home of Francesco di Marco Datini (1330-1410), a textile magnate and secular patron saint of capitalism whose life was drawn so vividly by Italian-American author Iris Oriogo that he's become known by the title of her book, The Merchant of Prato. Datini, almost single-handedly responsible for Prato's late medieval trade prosperity, was the inventor of the promissory note, and he kept scrupulous records of all his business activities -- the basis for Oriogo's book -- and inscribed each one of his financial ledgers with an accountant's battle cry: "For God and Profit."
One of the few places he allowed himself to spend money was on the decoration of his home, hiring Niccolò Gerini and Arrigo di Niccolò di Prato for the job. The outside frescoes have faded to reveal their fascinating sinopia sketches underneath, but many paintings on the interior walls remain. The de facto ticket room retains bucolic scenes bubbling with plant and animal life, and a side room contains a portrait of Datini dressed in red. Next to the main door, as in many medieval houses, is a giant St. Christopher, which Datini glanced at daily to protect against sudden death while he was out and about conducting business.
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