Antonio Filarete, and was erected by him with no less care and judgment than he had shown in the above-named hospital: and as he also took pleasure in writing, while these works of his were in course of progress, he composed a book, divided into three parts. In the first of these he treats of the measurements of buildings in general, and of all things needful to the erection of different fabrics. In the second he speaks of the methods of building, and of the manner in which a very beautiful and conveniently disposed city might be laid out. In the third, he describes new forms of buildings, wherein he mingles the antique with the modern. The whole work is further divided into twenty-four books, which are all illustrated by drawings from his own hand; but although some things that are good may be found in this work, yet it is for the most part sufficiently ridiculous, and so dull, that perhaps a more stupid book does not exist. It was dedicated by the author to the magnificent Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici in the year 1464, and is now in the possession of the most illustrious Signor Duke Cosimo. And of a truth, since Antonio put himself to so much trouble, he might have merited a certain degree of commendation if he had at least recorded some memorials of the masters of his time and of their works; but as there are but very few of these to be found, and those few are scattered without order throughout the book, as they are besides given where they are least required; he has laboured, as the saying is, to make himself the poorer, and to earn the reputation of possessing but little judgment, seeing that he has set himself to meddle with what he did not understand.[1]
But having said quite enough of Filarete, it is now time
- ↑ The Medicean copy of this work is now in the Magliabechiana Library. The initial letters are gilded and illuminated, and in the dedication to Cosimo de’ Medici the author expresses himsedf as follows:—‘‘As the work is, so be pleased to take it; not as from Vitruvius or the other eminent architects, but as from your own Filarete Antonio Averlino, architect of Florence.” A later hand has attempted to change the name into Ausonio Avercimono Faentino, but the older writing is still visible. A second copy dedicated to Francesco Sforza, is in the Biblioteca Palatina of Florence. There is some little ingratitude manifest in the judgment pronounced on this work by Vasari, who is certainly indebted to it for much of the inform' ation contained in certain parts of his own book.
struction of it was for some time suspended: it was subsequently completed after a design of the Cav. Carlo Fontana.
