durability, as well as beauty of form, the architect sent to Rome for puzzolana; all the lime used for the building was then tempered therewith, and for every stone laid therein the mortar was thus prepared; at the end of three years the edifice was given up to the wardens completed and freed from all encumbrance.
Giuliano then repaired to Rome, where he received a commission from Pope Alexander VI. to restore the roof of Santa Maria Maggiore, which was in a state of ruin; he also constructed the ceiling in wood-work, still to be seen in that church.[1] While thus employed for the court, the Bishop of Rovere,[2] who was then Cardinal of San Pietro in Vincoli, and who had been the friend of Giuliano from the time when he was Castellan of Ostia, confided to him the preparation of a model for the Palace of San Pietro in Vincoli, aforesaid;[3] and no long time after, desiring to erect a palace in his native city of Savona also, he determined to have that likewise constructed according to the designs and under the direction of Giuliano. But this was not easy of arrangement, seeing that the roof of Santa Maria Maggiore was not yet finished, and Pope Alexander would not suffer the architect to leave Rome. Finally, however, Giuliano caused the works of Santa Maria to be continued by his brother Antonio, by whom they were completed; and the latter, possessing a lively and versatile genius, being thus brought into connexion with the court, afterwards entered the service of Pope Alexander: he was indeed ultimately regarded with very great favour by that pontiff, and received proof of this when his Holiness determined on restoring the tomb of Adrian (now called the Castello Sant’ Angelo), and erecting defences around it, after the manner of a fortress, Antonio being appointed superintendent of the works. Under his direction, therefore, the large towers of the lower end, with the ditches and other fortifications, such as we now see them, were constructed; this work obtained Antonio great credit with the Pope, as well as with the Duke Valentino his son,[4]
- ↑ It has been said that the gold with which this ceiling is decorated was the first ever brought from America. —Masselli.
- ↑ Afterwards Pope Julius II.
- ↑ This is the palace which stands near the church on the northern side. It is declared by Milizia to be altogether without merit of any kind.
- ↑ Caesar Borgia, Duke of Valentinois.
