Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/12

4 apart for men has an extent of 160 braccia in all directions, the structure being in the form of a cross: that for the women is of equal size. The width is 16 braccia, and in the four squares, enclosed by the crosses of each of these divisions, are four courts, around which are galleries with rooms for the use of the director, the officials, the servants, and the nurses of the hospital, all very commodious. On one side, moreover, is a stream of running water for the service of the hospital and for grinding corn, to the no small benefit and convenience of the institution, as every one will easily perceive. Between the two divisions of the hospital is a cloister, the extent of which is 80 braccia on the one side, and 160 on the other. In the midst of this cloister is the church, so contrived as to serve for both divisions; and, to sum up all in few words, the building is so well constructed and arranged, that I do not believe the like of it can be found in all Europe. The first stone of this fabric was laid, as appears from what we find recorded by Filarete himself, with the ceremony of a solemn procession of all the clergy of Milan, in the presence of the Duke Francesco Sforza and in that of the Lady Bianca Maria, accompanied by all their children; the Marquis of Mantua, the ambassador of the King of Arragon, with many other nobles being also present. On the first stone laid in the foundation, as well as on the coins, were the following words:— Francisous Sfortia Dux iii, qui amissum per prcecessorum ohitum urbis imperium recuperavit, hoc munus Christi pauperibus dedit fundavitque MGCCCLVii. die xii April.” These events were afterwards depicted on the portico by Maestro Vincenzio di Zoppa a Lombard, because there was not then a better master to be found in those parts. The principal church of Bergamo was likewise a work of