Meanwhile the noblest trait of the Italian genius was its worship of beauty as well as power. The creativeness of the Italians was revealed in their extraordinary sensitiveness to all forms of beauty in the visible world; and in the world of intellectual conception, and in their marvellous aptitude for translating their impressions of beauty into forms of equivalent refinement. Accordingly, the student of to-day visits churches to enjoy the treasures of pictured altar-pieces, sculptured tombs, pulpits, wonders of metal-work in screens and sacred vessels, marvels of exquisite craftsmanship in objects too numerous to mention. The =Sistine Chapel= draws him because of Michelangelo’s frescoes, the =Stanze= apartments for Raphael’s, and the adjoining =Loggia= for his pictured Bible. Again, it is Raphael’s frescoes that lead him to the =Villa Farnesina=, while many another villa charms to-day by the beauty of its gardens and terraces, fountains, cascades, and fish-ponds, shaded alleys and grottos. In innumerable ways it is the accompaniments of Italian Renaissance architecture, as well as the architecture itself, that excite admiration and have their message for ourselves. [Illustration: CHÂTEAU DE BLOIS GOTHIC PART BUILT BY LOUIS XII. P. 379] [Illustration: MAISON FRANÇOIS I. PARIS BUILT IN 1527. NOTE UNUSUAL SIZE OF WINDOWS; ALSO RICHNESS OF INTERVENING PILASTERS. P. 380] [Illustration: CHÂTEAU DE BLOIS PART ADDED BY FRANCIS I, SHOWING STAIRCASE TOWER. P. 380] [Illustration: CHÂTEAU DE CHAMBORD PERIOD FRANCIS I. P. 380] [Illustration: LUXEMBOURG PALACE ERECTED FOR MARIE DE MÉDICIS, WIFE OF HENRI IV; BY SALOMON DE BROSSE. P. 386] [Illustration: PLAN SHOWING GROWTH OF LOUVRE FROM THE ORIGINAL PART ERECTED BY PIERRE LESCOT--THE LEFT LOWER CORNER OF THE DARK QUADRANGLE ON RIGHT OF PLAN. P. 382, ET SEQ.] [Illustration: PAVILLON DE L’HORLOGE, LOUVRE WING TO THE RIGHT, THE ORIGINAL PART BY PIERRE LESCOT. THE PAVILLON AND LEFT WING BY LEMERCIER (LOUIS XIII). PP. 384, 385] CHAPTER IV RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE IN FRANCE 1. _Early Renaissance._ Reigns of Charles VIII, Louis XII, and Francis I (1483-1547). 2. _Advanced Renaissance._ Henri II, Francis II, Charles IX, and Henri III (1547-1589). 3. Classic Period. Henri IV, Louis XIII, and Louis XIV (1589-1715). 4. _Rococo._ The Regency and Louis XI (1715-1774). * * * * * By the middle of the fifteenth century commercial relations with Italy and the number of Italian ecclesiastics holding benefices in France, had caused a steady influx of Italian influence, which became intensified by the military interferences of Charles VIII, Louis XII, and Francis I in the politics of Italy. The practical issue of these otherwise disastrous expeditions was the invasion of Italian culture into France.