Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/503

Rh desired to have the model of a palace prepared by him. Giuliano was despatched thither by Lorenzo accordingly, and was no less honoured by the Duke in Milan than he had been in Naples by the King. When the model was completed, the master presented it, on the part of the magnificent Lo3‘enzo, to the Duke, who was filled with astonishment and admiration as he beheld the fine arrangement and commodious distribution of the different parts, and the rich decorations everywhere applied with the utnaost propriety and judgment, each ornament beautiful in itself, and all appropriate to the jDlace which they adorned The requisites for building were therefore immediately assembled, and they began at once to put the work in execution.

Leonardo da Vinci was in Milan at the same time with Giuliano, and was also in the service of the Duke; there was then a question of the bronze Horse, to which we have more than once alluded, and Leonardo, frequently speaking of his intention in regard to it with Giuliano da San Gallo, received many valuable counsels from him on that subject. The model for the last-mentioned work was destroyed on the arrival of the French, and the horse was therefore not finished, neither could the palace designed by Giuliano be completed.

Having returned to Florence, Giuliano found that his brother Antonio, who had assisted him in the preparation of his models, had himself become a most excellent master; there was indeed no artist of his time who executed carved work more perfectly than he did, large crucifixes in wood more especially. Of this we have a proof in that which is over the High Altar of the Nunziata in Florence, as well as in one belonging to the monks of San Gallo at San Jacopo-tra-Fossi, and in another which the Brotherhood of the Barefooted Friars have in their possession, all considered to be truly excellent works. But on his return, Giuliano persuaded his brother to abandon that occupation, prevailing