Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/437

Rh strangers, also, had constant recourse to Sansovino, for models, designs of buildings, statues or advice: as, for example, the Dukes of Ferrara, Mantua, and Urbino); this artist was nevertheless ever ready to oblige, and more especially was he devoted to the Signor Procurator!, by whom no work was ever undertaken, either in Venice or elsewhere, without his counsels and aid. Nay, they not unfrequently employed him for their friends and themselves without otFering him any remuneration, he refusing no labour that could give them satisfaction. Sansovino was most especially beloved and valued by the Prince Gritti, a firm friend to men of genius, by Messer Vettorio Grimani, brother of the Cardinal, and by the Cavalier Messer Giovanni da Legge, who were all Procurators. Messer Marcantonio Giustiniano, who had known him in Rome, was also the friend of Jacopo: these great and illustrious men, well practised in the affairs of the world, and having full knowledge of our Arts, were all well aware of his value, and the esteem in which he deserved to be held; doing him justice, therefore, they declared, and all the city agreed with them, that the Procuranzia never had had, and never would have, his equal. Nor were they unacquainted with the estimation in which he was held at Rome and in Florence, nay, throughout all Italy, by all great Princes and men of intellect; hence they were firmly persuaded that not only Sansovino himself, but his descendants also, would be duly honoured by that city for his extraordinary efforts and abilities.

Jacopo Sansovino, as to his person, was of the middle height, but rather slender than otherwise, and his carriage was remarkably upright; he was fair, with a red beard, and in his youth was of a goodly presence, wherefore he did not fail to be loved, and that by dames of no small importance. In his age he had an exceedingly venerable appearance; with his beautiful white beard, he still retained the carriage of his youth: he was strong and healthy even to his ninety-third year, and could see the smallest object, at whatever distance, without glasses, even then. When writing, he sat with his head up, not supporting himself in any manner, as it is usual for men to do. He liked to be handsomely dressed, and was singularly nice in his person. The society of ladies was acceptable to Sansovino, even to the extremity of age, and he always enjoyed conversing with or of them. He had