Giorgio Vasari

“ The Duke subsequently desired to make a sea-port of Pesaro, and Bartolommeo prepared a most beautiful model, which was then taken to Venice to the Count GiovanGiacomo Leonardi, Ambassador from the Duke of Urbino to the Signoria of that city, and was placed in his house to the end that it might be subjected to examination by men conversant with the profession, many of whom were in the habit of assembling, with other persons of fine genius, to hold discussions and disputations on various subjects in the house of the above-mentioned Count, who was indeed a distinguished and remarkable man. ”

“ Some time afterwards, and when his wound had been cured, Giovan-Battista repaired secretly to Siena, there to take the plan of the city and of the earth-works, which had been constructed by the Sienese at the gate of Camollia. This plan of the fortifications he afterwards laid before the Signor Duke and the Marquis of Marignano, showing them, in the clearest manner, that it would be in nowise difficult for them to make themselves masters of that portion of the defences, when they might easily hold it also, and could thus press the city from that side of the works which looks towards Siena. ”

“ At length, and after he had remained three years in Florence, he returned to his father, who was then occupied with the construction of the church of San Giovanni Battista in Pesaro; then the father perceived by the drawings of Bartolommeo that his son acquitted himself much better in architecture than in painting, and it appeared to him that he had a very fair aptitude to that vocation. ”

“ The last-named Palace was decorated under the direction and after the designs of Genga, with historical representations, the subjects for which were taken from the life and actions of the Duke himself, and were executed by Francesco da Forli, [8] and Raffael dal Borgo, [9] painters of good repute: the Mantuan artist Camillo, [10] who was most excellent in the delineation of landscapes, and remarkable for the beauty of the verdure which he depicted also took part in that work. ”

“ He found singular delight in the reading of historical relations, and even made a great collection of such himself, writing down the most notable circumstances of each narrative with great pains and labour. ”

“ It then chanced that he went frequently to Pesaro, when Girolamo Genga, perceiving him to be an upright and well-conducted young man, bestowed on him one of his daughters in marriage, and took him into his own house, where it soon became obvious that Giovan-Battista had a great inclination to the study of architecture. ”

“ Here too the artist gave evidence of the admirable genius wherewith he had been endowed, the work being considered an exceedingly fine one. [7] In the same place Girolamo painted the story of the Descent of the Holy Spirit for the physician Messer Francesco Lombardi, and that work he completed in the year 1512. Other paintings also were undertaken by our artist for certain parts of Romagna, and from these also he derived both honour and profit. ”

“ Now it was the wish of his Holiness at that time that Borgo should be fortified; wherefore Genga, at the request of the Duke, made some beautiful designs, which with others in considerable numbers are still in the possession of liis Excellency in Urbino. These things caused the fame of Bartolommeo to become widely extended, and while the latter was in Rome with the Duke, a request 'was preferred to that Prince by the Genoese, to the intent that he should permit Bartolommeo to assist them in some of their fortifications ”

“ The name by which this last-mentioned chapel is entitled is that of the Conception; the vaulting is richly decorated with beautiful works in stucco, wherein Francesco at that time instructed his son Pietro Paolo to labour with him; the young man subsequently did him great honour, and is now become very ably practised in that branch of art. But returning to Francesco himself, I have to relate, that the walls of the chapel in question were painted in fresco by his hand ”

“ This also is an object very pleasant to see: among other things to be remarked there, may be mentioned a staircase, similar to that of the Belvedere in Rome, and which is singularly beautiful. [13] Girolamo was likewise employed by the Duke to restore the Fortress of Gradara, and the Court of Castel Durante; all that is good in those works is indeed entirely due to this admirable genius. It was he who built the Corridor which passes around the court above the Garden at Urbino ”

“ Dwelling there accordingly, and attending to the study of design and of architecture, Bartolommeo formed a friendship with the Aretine painter and architect, Giorgio Vasari, as well as with the sculptor Bartolommeo Ammannati, from whom he acquired much useful knowledge appertaining to the arts. ”