temple of the Philistines. In this work the fragments of the structure are seen descending and overwhelming the people; the death of whom, some by the ruins, and some by terror, with the various attitudes into which that vast concourse was thrown, has been admirably delineated and expressed by the painter. In the same place are several bronze chandeliers, executed with great judgment and displaying considerable invention, by the same master, with certain figures in wax, the models of the works just described, also by his hand. From all we see, this artist was manifestly possessed by an extreme desire to reach the point attained by Donaletto; but this he did not effect, having attempted to attain a height beyond his strength, in a very difficult art.[1]
Vellano was also much attached to the study of architecture, and displayed more than common ability in the exercise of that branch of art. Having visited Pome in the year 1464, at the time when Pope Paul,[2] a Venetian, occupied the chair of St. Peter, Vellano was employed in the works of the Vatican, Giuliano da Maiano being architect to the pontiff. Among other things executed by Vellano, are the arms of Pope Paul, with the name of his Holiness; and many of the decorations in the palace of San Marco are by this artist, who was commissioned to that work by the same pope, and executed the bust[3] of the Holy Father, which is to be seen on the summit of the staircase.
A magnificent Court was designed for this palace by Vellano, with a graceful and commodious flight of steps, but the death of the pontiff intervened to prevent the execution of the work, and all these things remained incomplete. During the period of his abode in Pome, Vellano executed many small works in marble and bronze for the pope and other persons, but these I have not been able to find. In Perugia there is a bronze statue larger than life by this
- ↑ These words Cicognara declares to be in contradiction to the eulogies of the previous pages; and concludes that Vasari wrote this life from notices communicated to him by the friends of Vellano, whom he has thus not described according to his own judgment, but according to the representations of others, the result being, that Vellano receives undue praise.
- ↑ Paul II. (Pietro, Cardinal Barbo.)
- ↑ This bust retains its place, but it was at one time the purpose of the Venetian ambassador, Zulian, to remove it to Venice.— Bottari.
