This is the way the funds were found, and now who were the builders? We have seen in a former chapter that the Visconti patronized the Campionese school of architect-sculptors, and as the Comacines had been associated with Milan for centuries, it was not necessary to look far for architects. Indeed the very first batch of names which meets our eye in the books of the laborerium are all of the Lombard Guild. Here is chief architect Simone da Arsenigo written down as ingegnere generale; or capo maestro, Guarnerio da Sirtori; Marco, Jacopo, e Zeno, da Campione; and Andrea from Modena; where we have seen the Campione Masters established a school.
On October 16, 1387, a meeting was held by the commission of the Duomo to discuss a project proposed by the administrators of the Fabbrica, for forming a regular organization, and electing the proper officials. It was decided—
1. To confirm the present deputies as superintendents of the work. (Here we have the Tuscan Operai.)
2. To elect a treasurer-general.
3. To nominate a good and efficient accountant.
4. Also a good and efficient spenditore (in Tuscany this is the Provveditore).
5. To confirm the election of Magister Simone da Arsenigo as head architect of the building, and to nominate enough capable Masters to assist him. (In Tuscany capo maestro and Maestri.)
6. To confirm (considering their eminence in their art) Dionisolo di Brugora and Ambrogio da Sala (an island in Lake Como near Comacina) in their offices, and to choose others equally good to aid in the building.
7. To elect two or more probi uomini (arbiters).
8. To elect lawyer, notary, and sindaci (consuls) of the art.