Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/435

Rh not so strong or so well-ordered a treasury as that of Venice. It is all in the Rustic order, and this, not having been previously adopted in that city, caused much admiration there. The Church of Santo Spirito, on the Lagunes, is also by Sansovino; a graceful and pleasing work. The façade of San Gimignano, which gives splendour to the Piazza, with that of San Giuliano in the Merceria, are both by that master, as is the rich Tomb of Prince Francesco Veniero. He built the new Vaults at the Rialto likewise; and the design of these works is excellent, furnishing a commodious market to the peasantry and others who daily flock to Venice with their merchandise.

At the Misericordia, Sansovino undertook a new and remarkable construction for the Trepoli; that family had a large Palace, with apartments of regal splendour, on the Canal, but being badly founded within the waters, it was feared that the edifice would in a few years fall to the ground. Sansovino reconstructed the foundations, however, with immense masses of stone, gave further support to the house itself with a marvellous system of piles, and the owners now inhabit their palace with the most perfect security. Nor have these numerous fabrics prevented our artist from daily producing, for his recreation, great and beautiful works in marble and bronze. Over the Holy Water Vase belonging to the monks of the Ca Grande, for example, he has placed a figure of San Giovanni Battista in marble, which is most beautiful, and justly extolled. At the Chapel of the Santo, in Padua, moreover, there is a beautiful story in marble, representing a miracle of Sant’ Antonio, by his hand: it is in mezzo-rilievo, and is greatly valued by the Paduans.

For the entrance to the Palazzo of San Marco, Sansovino is now preparing two colossal figures of Neptune and Mars, to signify the power of the Republic, both by land and water. They are seven braccia high, and promise to be very beautiful. He has executed a fine statue of Hercules, for the Duke of Ferrara; and in the Church of San Marco,