Page:On the Vatican Library of Sixtus IV.djvu/23

 some other use. At about the same date the same workmen set up a scaffold in the Bibliotheca secreta for the painters, and openings were made in the wall between the Greek and Latin Libraries. With reference to the latter work the following important entry occurs under the date 27 August, 1480:

Item pro purganda bibliotheca veteri et asportandis calcinaciis duarum fenestrarum factarum inter græcam et latinam b. die qua supra.

The painters employed in the Bibliotheca secreta and Bibliotheca pontificia were Melozzo dà Forli and another called simply Antonazzo. It is evident, from the way in which the first entry concerning them is expressed, that the fourth room of the series was an afterthought:

Habuere Melotius et Antonatius pictores pro pictura facta in bibliotheca secreta et in illa additione quam nuper fecit d. n. ducatos decem die Junii 1480.

They received in all 89 ducats and a half for their work, about which hardly any details are given. In the centre of the ceiling of the Libraria secreta was a coat of arms, probably those of the Pope, carved in wood. These were gilt and painted, as shewn by a subsequent entry for the purchase of colours; and coloured lines seem to have been drawn round the doors and windows. This last payment marks the conclusion of the whole work.

Habuit magister Antonatius per un arma de legno intagliata per mettere nel sopracelo della libreria secreta ducati doa die augusti 1480.

Item habuit magister Antonatius ducatos duos cum dimidio pro liniamentis hostiorum et fenestrarum pictarum in ipsa bibliotheca die aprilis 1481, nil amplius restat habere.

Rooms for the librarian and keepers were fitted up in 1480 and 1481. The only detail of interest is a payment to Francis of Milan for a door of inlaid wood between the Library and the librarian's room. Further, it appears that

C. A. S. Comm.. X. 2