Giorgio Vasari

“ When Antonio had become old, he took pleasure in no other occupation than that of agriculture, which he understood perfectly well. Finally, being rendered by the weight of his years unable to support any longer the cares of this world, he resigned his soul to God in the year 1534, and was laid to his repose, together with his brother Giuliano, in the burial place of the Giamberti family, which is in the church of Santa Maria Novella. ”

“ But to the end that the model which he was preparing for the Duke of Calabria might not be neglected, but might be finished within reasonable time, Giuliano confided it to his brother Antonio, with directions for completing it; which Antonio accordingly did with great care, he being no less competent in the art than Giuliano himself. When this was done, Lorenzo the elder advised our architect to be the bearer of his own work to Naples, in order that he might point out the peculiarities of the construction, and the difficulties which had been overcome. ”

“ The architect subsequently desiring to construct the ceiling of the great hall of that palace in the manner which we call coved, Lorenzo was not to be persuaded that it was possible to do this, the extent of the space considered; whereupon Giuliano, who was at that time building a house of his own in Florence, constructed the ceiling of his hall as he desired to have that in the palace, when the illustrious Lorenzo, being thus convinced, immediately caused the hall of the Poggio to be vaulted in like manner, a work which was completed very successfully. ”

“ The death of the king of Naples took place about this time, when Giuliano Gondi, a very rich Florentine merchant, returned to his native city, and then commissioned Giuliano da San Gallo, with whom he had become well acquainted during the sojourn of the latter at Naples, to build a palace in the Tuscan manner for his residence. The position of this building was to be opposite to San Francesco, above the place where the Lions stand; it would have formed the angle of the piazza, having one of its fronts towards the Mercatanzia, but the death of Giuliano Gondi put a stop to the work. ”

“ Nor did any long time elapse before Giuliano was again despatched to Pisa by the same Piero Soderini, together with an almost innumerable company of builders, when they constructed, with extraordinary celerity, the fortress which is at the gate of San Marco, with that gate itself, which was erected in the Doric order. While Giuliano was busied with this undertaking, which occupied him until the year 1512, Antonio travelled throughout the whole state, inspecting all the fortresses and public buildings of the Florentine territories, and putting all into good and serviceable order. ”

“ In their houses in Florence, these masters had collected a large number of beautiful antiquities in marble—treasures, which contributed, and still contribute, to adorn their native city, while they also do honour to the artists themselves, and redound to the glory of art. ”

“ From this work Lorenzo took occasion to name our artist Giuliano da San Gallo; wherefore the master, who gradually heard hirnsell called by every one da San Gallo, said one day jestingly to the magnificent Lorenzo, “By this your new way of calling me da San Gallo, you are making me lose the name of mine ancient house, so that instead of going forward, as I thought to do by the antiquity of my race, I am going backwards.” To which Lorenzo replied, that he would rather see him become the founder of a new house by the force of his talents than remain a dependant on any other ”

“ Giuliano repaired to Naples accordingly, and having presented his model, was received very honourably, the courtly manner in which the magnificent Lorenzo had sent him, exciting much admiration, as did also the masterly construction of the model, which gave such entire satisfaction that the work was instantly commenced in the vicinity of the Gastello Nuovo. ”

“ Giuliano brought from Rome the method of constructing vaulted ceilings, in materials which permit the carvings and other decorations to be executed in one piece: [38] of this we have an example in an apartment of his own house, and at Poggio-a -Cajano,. the ceiling of the Great Hall, still to be seen there, is constructed after this manner. Large is the debt of gratitude due to these artists, by whose labours the Florentine state has been fortified, while the city itself has received great increase of beauty from their endeavours. ”

“ The old fortress in the city of Arezzo had at this time been destroyed; wherefore Antonio prepared the model for the new one, with the consent of Giuliano, who came on account of business connected with that matter from Rome, but very soon returned thither. This work of the fortress of Arezzo caused Antonio to be chosen architect to the commune of Florence, by which he was appointed superintendent over all the fortifications of the state. ”

“ Numerous artists having then made designs, the question became a subject of so much consideration, that by little and little they arrived at the determination not to construct a chapel only, but to commence the vast fabric of the new San Pietro. ”

“ There he desired to found a city, but would not proceed without the advice and direction of Giuliano^ wherefore, the commencement of that most renowned fabric was made by that master, and after his designs were constructed that well-arranged series of fortifications and those beautiful edifices which we now see there. ”

“ It is declared by Milizia to be altogether without merit of any kind. ↑ Caesar Borgia, Duke of Valentinois. ↑ The palace built by Giuliano at Savona, was afterwards converted into a Convent for the Nuns of Santa Clara.—Milizia. ↑ This fortress, with the exception of some few portions of the walls, is now (1759) entirely demolished. —Bottari. ↑ Bottari seeks to prove from this passage that RafFael was in Rome, before Bramante had ever visited that city, but the authorities consider him to have failed, and it is certain that Vasari does more than once himself aihrm the direct contrary. ”

“ Notwithstanding that precaution, however, as they were passing near Altopascio, the whole company were made prisoners by the Pisans, who cared nothing at all for their safe conduct, or any other causes of exemption that could be alleged. ”