Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/307

Rh materials to the summit could mount and descend them, while men could go up on horseback to the platform of the arches. He formed the first cornice over the arches of travertine in a circular form, a beautiful work, of the most graceful effect, and quite different from the others; nor could there be anything better of that kind. He then commenced the two great recesses of the Transept; but whereas, by the order of Bramante, Baldassare, and Rafiaello, there were to be eight niches or tabernacles on the side towards the Campo Santo, as we have said, an arrangement followed by Sangallo, Michelagnolo reduced them to three, with three chapels, raising over them a vaulting of travertine, and a range of windows, giving full light, varied in their form, and of very magnificent efiect. But as these are finished, and are besides to be published by engravings, as are all the designs of Michelagnolo and of Saugallo likewise, I will not give myself the trouble of describing them, which is indeed unnecessary. Let it suffice to say, that where our artist made changes he caused all to be constructed with the utmost exactitude, adding a degree of strength which should leave no pretext for any other to disturb his plans. And this was the foresight of a prudent man, for it does not alway suffice to do well, unless further precaution be taken; seeing that the presumption and boldness of such as might be supposed—if you regard their words rather than their works—to know something, may cause many inconvenient changes.

Now the Roman people desired, under the favour of Pope Paul, to give some more decorous, beautiful, and convenient form to their Capitol, proposing to adorn it with columns, andfiights of steps, having balustrades and broad stairs; to say nothing of the ancient statues wherewith it was to be further decorated. For this the advice of Michelagnolo was requested, and he made them a rich and beautiful design; this comprised a fine front in travertine, on the side of the Senate-house, towards the east namely, with a double flight of steps, ascending to a platform, whence you enter the middle of the Great Hall, the rich and varied balustrades of those steps serving at once as a support and a bulwark. And, for the further decoration of the same, he added antique figures of recumbent River-gods, nine braccia high, the Tiber and the Nile namely; these he has raised on pedestals, and between them