Giorgio Vasari

“ The Florentine Salvestro Fancelli, [17] a tolerably good architect and sculptor, was the person who carried Leon Batista’s designs for the city of Florence into execution, according to the desire of that master, and this he did with extraordinary judgment and diligence. The works designed by Alberti for Mantua were executed by a certain Luca, also a Florentine, who, continuing ever after to dwell in that city, there died, leaving the name, as we are told by Filarete, to the family of the Luchi, which is still settled there. ”

“ We are thus taught by experience, that, in so far as regards name and fame, the written word is that which, of all things, has the most effectual force, the most vivid life, and the longest duration; for books make their way to all places, and every where they obtain the credence of men, provided they be truthful and written in the spirit of candour. ”

“ About the same time, Ludovico Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, having determined to construct the apsis, or tribune, and the principal chapel in the Nunziata, the church of the Servites in Florence, after the design and model of Leon Batista, caused a small square chapel, very old, and painted in the ancient manner, which was at the upper end of that church, to be demolished, and in its place made the tribune above-mentioned. ”

“ When he afterwards proceeded to turn the arches of the internal vaulting, he perceived that he could not give it the form of the half-circle, the effect of which would be stunted and clumsy; lie therefore determined to turn small arches over the angles from one ressault to the other, showing that there was wanting in him that soundness of judgment in design, which, as is clearly evident, can only be the result of practice added to knowledge ”

“ Leon Batista was well versed in arithmetic, and a very good geometrician; he wrote ten books respecting architecture in the Latin tongue, which were published in 1481; they may now be read in the Florentine language, having been translated by the Rev. Messer Cosimo Bartoli, provost of San Giovanni, in Florence. tie likewise wrote three books on painting, now translated into the Tuscan by Messer Ludovico Domenichi, and composed a dissertation on tractile [5] forces, containing rules for measuring heights. ”

“ Rer. Ital., vol, 25, where he Avill find the source of the principal facts supplied by the many writers who treat of this distinguished man. ↑ In the life of Parri Spinelli, vol. 1. ↑ The later Florentine commentators thus explain the word “tirari,” and declare Bottari, who believes it to mean “the mode of drawing lines,” to be in error. ↑ Of the numerous writings edited, or still in manuscript, of Leon Batista, the most accurate list will be found in the biographical work of Du Fresne, appendix. ”