Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/451

Rh tura, a carpenter of Pistoja who was endowed with great ingenuity, and drew very tolerably well. Ventura took much delight in the admeasurement of the ancient buildings of Rome, but having returned to Pistoja, he settled himself finally in his native place. Now, it so chanced that in the year 1509, there was a Madonna in that city—now called Our Lady of Humility—who was at that time working miracles, and as large offerings were made to her and much alms bestowed, the Signoria who were then governing, resolved to erect a church in her honour. This opportunity having presented itself to Ventura, he prepared a model in the form of an octagonal temple, the width whereof was.... braccia, and the height.... braccia, he added a vestibule, or portico to the façade; the interior of the building as seen in the model was richly adorned, and the whole work was indeed exceedingly beautiful. The Signoria and the principal persons of the city were accordingly very well satisfied therewith, and determined to commence the fabric according to Ventura's plan. He therefore laid the foundations of the church and vestibule, the latter of which he completed entirely, adorning it richly with columns of the Corinthian order, elaborate cornices and other decorations carved in stone: for all the vaultings likewise of that structure there were prepared fluted cornices, also in stone, and adorned with rosettes. The octangular church itself was afterwards erected to the height of the last cornice, from which the vaulting of the tribune was to commence, and all this was effected during the lifetime of Ventura; but he not being largely experienced in works of so much extent and importance, did not sufficiently consider the weight of the tribune, or the necessity of providing for the security of the building, when that burden should be laid upon it. At the level of the first range of windows therefore, he had permitted a passage, running entirely around the edifice, to be formed in the thickness of the wall; and this he had