Notes and Queries, Number 172, February 12, 1853 / A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.

I have been favoured by a friend, who visited Italy last year, with the perusal of a small guidebook, which has afforded me much amusement, and from which I send you a few extracts for the gratification of your readers. The title runs thus:
Description of the front and interior of the Cathedral of Milan the first edition corrected, and increased with interesting things Milan by the printer Luigi di Giacomo Pirola M.DCCC.XLVI.
The Preface is as follows:
In presenting to the learned and intelligent Publick this new and brief Description of the Cathedral of Milan, i must apprise that i do not mean to emulate with the works already existing of infinite merit for the notions they contain, and the perspicuity with which they are exposed. My idea only was to make an extract of them, not forgetting the principal things of observation, with the names of the most distinguished artists, and not to deprive them of all the digressions and explanations required by the Scientificals, or those skilled in the art, so that it might be contained in a Pamphlet, and of little expence, to be offered to the amateurs of fine arts, who come to visit this unique and magnificent Edifice. Therefore i have not failed to include in it, all that has been done subsequently to the publishment of the above works, with some other little trifles worthy to be seen, and in them not mentioned. Such has been my sole design, no other pretention has induced me to it, and with a similar premise, i hope to be pardoned by the indulgent Reader for all the errors in which i might have involuntarily incurred. G. P.
In the introductory portion, giving a general account of the building, G. P. says:
Under the direction of honest, intelligent and active Administrators, and by the pious munificence of our Gracious Sovereign, who bestowes an annual generous donation for completing the building of the Cathedral of Milan, one perceives tending with the greatest celerity to the perfection of this magnificent Edifice, founded by a special vow in 1386 by the duke of Milan Giovanni Galeazzo Visconti. It is of fine white statuary marble, extracted from the quarry of mount Gandolia, which among many gifts was expressly regaled for the building by its generous founder the duke Visconti above mentioned.