Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/308

296 there is to be the statue, in a large niche, of Jupiter. On the south side, where is the Palace of the Conservators, and by way of bringing the building to a square form, there followed a rich and varied façade, with a Loggia of columns, and niches beneath, and here many antique statues are to be placed; doors, windows, and numerous ornaments are likewise in preparation, many of which are finished. A similar fa9ade is to be erected opposite to this, on the north side beneath the Ara Coeli; and on the west, there is to be a flight of steps of very easy ascent, the whole surrounded by a balustrade; and here will be the principal entrance, which is further to be adorned by a range of pedestals, whereon the magnificence of those statues, in which the Capitol is now so rich, will be displayed.

In the centre of the Piazza, and on a pedestal of an oval form, is erected the Horse of bronze so much talked of, whereon there sits the figure of Marcus Aurelius, which Pope Paul III. caused to be removed from the Piazza of the Lateran, where it had been placed by Sixtus IV. By all these alterations and additions the edifice has now been rendered so beautiful that it merits to be accounted among the finest of Michelagnolo s works, although it is at present only in course of completion, not by himself, but by M. Tommaso de Cavalieri, a Roman gentleman, who has been and is one of the most faithful friends of Michelagnolo, as will be related hereafter.

While Antonio da Sangallo lived. Pope Paul had permitted him to continue the building of the Farnese Palace; but the upper cornice on the outside was still wanting, and His Holiness now desired that this should be added by Michelagnolo, after his own design, and under his direction. That master, therefore, not wishing to disoblige the Pope, who esteemed and favoured him so much, made a model in wood, seven braccia long, and of the exact size which the cornice was to be. This he caused to be fixed on one of the angles of the Palace that the effect might be seen, when, as the Pontiff and all Rome with him were much pleased therewith, it was put into execution, and so much of it as we now see was completed, proving to be the most beautiful and varied cornice ever erected, either by the ancients or moderns. On the death of Sangallo, Pope Paul desired, as we have said,