Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/450

442 porary with. Giovan-Maria, and received its ultimate perfection from Messer Michele San Michele. The people of these parts are, therefore, under an eternal obligation to the Veronese, in whose country were born these three most excellent architects, who were indeed all living therein at one and the same time. To them succeeded Sansovino, who to Architecture, which he found well grounded and established by the three masters above-named, added Sculpture, which he carried thither, to the end that their buildings might be furnished with all the ornament that can be desired for such: but for this they are indebted, if it be permitted so to speak, to the ruin of Rome; for, as in consequence of that event the masters were dispersed, the beauties of these arts were then communicated to all Europe.

Giovan-Maria caused certain works in stucco to be executed in Venice, teaching the methods by which it is necessary to proceed for that purpose. Some affirm that in his youth Falconetto directed the adornment of the ceiling in the chapel of the Santo, which was executed in stucco work by Tiziano da Padova, with many others: there are besides various decorations of this kind executed under his direction in the Casa Cornara, and which are exceedingly beautiful. This master taught his art to two of his sons; to Ottaviano that is to say, who was also like himself a painter as well as architect; and to Provalo, his second son; Alessandro, the third, gave his attention in his youth to the vocation of an armourer, but afterwards betook himself to the profession of arms and became a soldier; he was three times victor on the battle-field, and finally, being then a Commander of Infantry, he died bravely fighting before Turin in Piedmont, having received his death from a cannon ball.

Falconetto himself, after having been for some time disabled by the gout, ultimately finished the course of his life at Padua, and in the house of the above-named Messer Luigi