Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/180

172 another of Baldassare's disciples; he gave much attention to mathematics and cosmography, constructing quadrants, the mariners’ compass, instruments for measuring, and other things of similar kind, with his own hand; he likewise made plans for numerous fortresses, which are now for the most part in the hands of the Sienese goldsmith. Maestro Giuliano, his most intimate friend. This Giovanni Battista made a model of the city of Siena, for the Duke Cosimo, which is, in truth, exceedingly beautiful, with the valleys and every thing surrounding the place to the distance of a mile and a half—the walls, the roads, the forts, and, in short, every object within that distance, are all shown in relief—a truly admirable work. But being of an unstable mind, Giovanni w^ould not remain in the service of Duke Cosimo, although he had a good stipend from that prince, but departed, thinking to do still better, and repaired to France, where, having followed the Court without any advantage for a long time, he died at Avignon. And although this master was a very good and able architect, yet one does not see buildings erected by him or after his design in any city, because he remvained for so short a time only in each place, that he had not time to determine on any thing, insomuch that he consumed all his days in the preparation of designs, in fanciful inventions, in the admeasurement of buildings, or in making models. He has nevertheless deserved this mention, as being a follower of our arts.

Baldassare drew admirably well in all manners, giving proof of great judgment and infinite care in each, but more particularly with the pen, in water-colours, and in chiaroscuro. Of this, numerous examples may be seen in the many drawings by this master, which are now in the possession of different artists: we have ourselves a considerable number in our book of drawings, and among them is one which is a most fanciful invention. It represents a Piazza entirely filled with arches of triumph, colossal statues, theatres, pyramids, obelisks, temples of various character, colonnades, porticoes, and other erections of similar kind, after the manner of the ancients. On a pedestal in the midst of these edifices, is a figure of Mercury, and around him are thronging all sorts of Alchymists with bellows, some large, others small, crucibles, retorts, and other instruments used