Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/395

Rh at the time when that city was subjected to the above-named Emperor. Fra Giocondo gave the model for the works, the central pier requiring to be refounded and entirely rebuilt, seeing that it had aforetime been more than once destroyed by floods; for all which Giocondo gave directions, and this he did in such sort, not for constructing only, but for defending and preserving also, that the bridge thenceforward has incurred no danger of falling.

The mode in which Fra Giocondo proceeded for securing the safety of the piers was as follows: he caused double piles of considerable depth to be firmly bound together and fixed in the water entirely around the piers, to the end that these might prevent the stream from undermining the foundations, seeing that the principal force of the waters is brought to bear upon that point, while the bed of the river is so soft that no resting place of sufficient firmness could be found whereon to lay secure foundations. And of a truth the measures thus taken by Fra Giocondo were the best that could be, as has been proved by the result, since from that time to this the bridge has maintained its position, and still continues to do so, without showing the smallest disposition to yield in any part, nay, there is hope that by the observation of such rules as were laid down by that good father, it may continue to stand without injury through all time.

In his youth Fra Giocondo passed many years in Rome, zealously occupied with the examination and study of antiquities, and not of the buildings only but of inscriptions also, such as they exist among the sepulchral monuments and in other edifices; nor did he confine his attention to Rome, but extended his researches to all the surrounding parts, and continuing them through various districts of Italy, he collected all these inscriptions with other memorials into a most admirable and beautiful book. This he then sent, according to what is affirmed by the people of Verona, as a present to the magnificent Lorenzo de’ Medici the Elder: to whose service, as being the most powerful friend and support of all men of letters and distinction, both Fra Giocondo and his companion Domizio Calderino, also a Veronese, were ever