Giorgio Vasari

“ Works in architecture should without doubt be massive, grand, severe, and simple, beautified by the grace of their design, but guarded as respects the composition, which must be varied as the occasion demands, so that the harmony of the arrangements shall not be disturbed by too many nor impoverished by too few decorations, regard being always had to the general effect. ”

“ Painters, in like manner, are compelled to make a certain acquaintance therewith, by the variety of subjects they treat, by the perspective views they paint, and by the buildings which they copy, but cannot properly depict, without having first taken the ground plans of the same, seeing that neither houses nor flights of steps can be placed correctly, nor can figures be painted on their true plane, until attention has first been given to certain considerations connected with architecture. ”

“ It is, however, certain that no one who has not great powers of design, and is not gifted with rich invention, will ever attain to perfection in compositions which affect great and noble edifices, seeing that such men must be ever too poor in judgment, and too much wanting in grace, to be capable of carrying into effect important undertakings in architecture. ”

“ For a work of such great cost, and one to be erected in a place so renowned, Bandinello, if he did not himself appreciate the beauties of architecture or comprehend its details, should have obtained the assistance of some one among his contemporaries who might have been competent both by knowledge and practice to do better. ”

“ Baccio d’Agnolo decorated an ante-room for Giovan-Maria Benintendi, and prepared an ornament by way of frame-work around certain pictures by eminent masters, which was considered an extraordinarily beautiful work. The same architect made the model for the Church of San Giuseppe at Santo Nofri, [8] and also erected the portal thereof, which was his last work. He superintended the erection of the Campanile of Santo Spirito in Florence also, but this remained unfinished, and is now in course of completion, by command of the Signor Duke Cosimo, after the design given by Baccio. ”

“ Giuliano meanwhile, never neglecting his bottega, gave his attention, as did his brothers with him, to the execution of various carvings and wood-work, proceeding with the pavement of Santa Maria del Fiore, where he was sought by Bandinello, Giuliano being chief superintendent and architect of the building, who required his aid in the preparation of a plan and model in wood for certain fantasies of figures and other ornaments, which Bandinello proposed using in the construction of the high altar of marble for Santa Maria del Fiore ”

“ By such means do workers in wood, who are in the continual practice of handling or examining such forms, become in course of time architects; while sculptors also obtain some knowledge of the same while fixing the position of their statues, or preparing ornaments for sepulchral erections and other works of relief. ”

“ Giuliano, therefore, with the assistance of Bandinello, commenced the construction of that choir, without altering anything excepting only the principal entrance to the same, which, being opposite to the altar above-mentioned, he was desirous of having exactly similar to the altar itself, with the same arch and the same decorations. ”

“ For Taddeo of the Taddei family he also built a house which was considered a very commodious and beautiful edifice. [5] For Pier Francesco Borgherini he prepared the plans for the dwelling which the latter erected in the Borgo Sant’ Apostolo; [6] and for this he likewise caused beautiful decorations for the doors and very magnificent chimney-pieces to be executed at very great cost: for one apartment in particular he made coffers in walnut wood, adorned with figures of children, carved with the utmost care ”