Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 09 (of 10): Michelagnolo to the FlemingsVasari, Giorgio
History
Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 09 (of 10): Michelagnolo to the Flemings
Vasari, Giorgio
Art, Italian; Artists -- Italy -- Biography
copper, with that of the Sun for gold; but it was enough for those
Signori that there should be that of gold, as the most perfect of all
the metals. The same Danese has begun another work in memory of Prince
Loredano, Doge of Venice, wherein it is hoped that in invention and
fantasy he is to surpass by a great measure all his other labours;
which work is to be placed in the Church of SS. Giovanni e Polo in
Venice. But, since this master is alive and still constantly at work
for the benefit of the world and of art, I shall say nothing more of
him; nor of other disciples of Sansovino. I will not omit, however, to
speak briefly of some other excellent craftsmen, sculptors and
painters, from that dominion of Venice, taking my opportunity from
those mentioned above, in order to make an end of speaking of them in
this Life of Sansovino.
[Illustration: PALAZZO CHIERICATI
(_After =Andrea Palladio=. Vicenza_)
_Alinari_]
Vicenza, then, has likewise had at various times sculptors, painters,
and architects, of some of whom record was made in the Life of
Vittore Scarpaccia, and particularly of those who flourished in the
time of Mantegna and learned to draw from him; and such were
Bartolommeo Montagna, Francesco Verbo, and Giovanni Speranza, all
painters, by whose hands are many pictures that are dispersed
throughout Vicenza. Now in the same city there are many sculptures by
the hand of one Giovanni, a carver and architect, which are passing
good, although his proper profession has been to carve foliage and
animals, as he still does excellently well, although he is old. In
like manner, Girolamo Pironi of Vicenza has executed praiseworthy
works of sculpture and painting in many places in his city. But among
all the masters of Vicenza he who most deserves to be extolled is the
architect Andrea Palladio, from his being a man of singular judgment
and brain, as many works demonstrate that were executed by him in his
native country and elsewhere, and in particular the Palazzo della
Comunità, a building much renowned, with two porticoes composed in the
Doric Order with very beautiful columns. The same Palladio has erected
a palace, beautiful and grand beyond all belief, with an infinity of
the richest ornaments, for Count Ottavio de' Vieri, and another like
it for Count Giuseppe di Porto, which could not be more beautiful or
magnificent, nor more worthy than it is of no matter how great a
Prince; and another is being built even now for Count Valerio
Chiericati under the direction of the same master, very similar in
majesty and grandeur to the ancient buildings so much extolled. For
the Counts of Valmorana, likewise, he has now carried almost to
completion another most superb palace, which does not yield in any
particular to any of those mentioned above. In the same city, upon the
piazza commonly called the Isola, he has built another very
magnificent fabric for Signor Valerio Chiericati; and at Pugliano, a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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