Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/454

442 water is supplied by as many frogs which are placed above the heads of those monsters. Around the basin, into which there is a commodious descent by circular steps, there is a space in which two persons can walk together conveniently.

The wall of the building is divided into eight compartments, in four of which are large niches, each of them having a circular basin, but slightly raised from the ground, and half within the niche, while the other half projects beyond it; this basin, which is large enough for a man to bathe therein, receives cold and hot water from the horns of a great mask which takes the same in again at its mouth. In one of the other four compartments is the door, the remaining three divisions having windows and seats in them. These eight compartments are separated by terminal figures which support the cornice whereon the circular vaulting of the whole fabric reposes: from the centre of the ceiling hangs a large ball of crystal, on which is depicted the celestial sphere, and within this is the Griobe of the Earth, from various parts of which proceed lights to illumine the Bath, when any one desires to use it at night: these lights render the whole building as clear as it is at mid-day. I omit all description of the ante-room, dressing chambers, and small bathing room, which are finely adorned with stuccoes, and do not enumerate the pictures which embellish the place, that I may not be more prolix than is needful; suffice it to say, that they are by no means unworthy of the structure.

The Milanese Palace of the Signor Tommaso Marini, Duke of Terra-Nuova, has been also erected after the design of Galeazzo; and by the same artist, very probably, are the fa9ade of the building, now in course of erection at San Celso, with the circular Hall of the Exchange, the latelycommenced Church of San Vittore, and many other edifices.

When Galeazzo has not been able himself to be present, he has sent designs for Palaces, Churches, and other buildings, into every part of Italy; but of these I will not now speak further, what I have said being sufficient to make him known as an excellent and able architect.

There is one artist more, whom, as he is one of our Italians, I will not omit to mention, although I do not know the