Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/48

40 be distributed, each to its appropriate portion, with a more perfect grace.

The knowledge of letters and the study of the sciences are, without doubt, of the utmost value to all, and offer the most important advantages to every artist who takes pleasure therein; but most of all are they serviceable to sculptors, painters, and architects, for whom they prepare the path to various inventions in all the works executed by them; and be the natural qualities of a man what they may, his judgment can never be brought to perfection if he be deprived of the advantages resulting from the accompaniment of learning. For who does not admit, that in selecting the site of buildings it is necessary to proceed with enlightened consideration, in order to their being sheltered from dangerous winds, and so placed as to avoid insalubrious air, injurious vapours, and the effects of impure and unhealthy waters? who does not allow, that for whatever work is to be executed, the artist must know for himself, both how to avoid impediments and how to secure all needful results,