he was summoned to prepare designs for the fortifications of the city, and those defences were then constructed under his direction.
This undertaking being completed, Baldassare once more repaired to Rome, where he built a house opposite to the Farnese Palace, with others in the centre of the city. He was also employed on many occasions by Pope Leo X., more particularly when that Pontiff, desiring to bring the church of San Pietro, which had been commenced by Julius II. after the design of Bramante, to a conclusion, and finding the edifice too large, resolved to have a new model constructed. His Holiness was of opinion, that the various parts of that vast fabric were not in harmony with each other; wherefore he committed the work to Baldassare, who prepared a new model, which is truly ingenious, and of very magnificent character; it gives proof of so much judgment also, that succeeding architects have frequently availed themselves of many parts thereof.[1] Diligent and judicious, this master brought his works so successfully to completion, that he may truly be said never to have had his equal in architecture, and this principally because he combined with his knowledge of that art, so beautiful and admirable a manner in painting and decoration. The design for the tomb of Pope Adrian VI., was given by Baldassare, and the paintings around it are also by his hand, but the marble work of the sepulchre was executed by the Sienese sculptor, Michelagnolo, assisted only by Peruzzi.[2]
When the Calandra, a drama written by the Cardinal di Bibiena, was performed before Pope Leo, Baldassare prepared all the scenic arrangements for that spectacle in a manner no less beautiful, nay rather it was much more so, than he had exhibited on the occasion referred to above; and his labours of this kind deserve all the more praise from the fact that these performances of the theatre, and consequently all re-
- ↑ Baldassare Peruzzi was chosen architect of St. Peter’s, on the death of Raphael. See the work on architecture of his disciple Serlio; even the difficult Milizia praises the above-mentioned design, which is perhaps the most beautiful of all those prepared for the building. See also Platner and Bunsen, Deschreibung der Stadt Rom., Abth. 2nd, 3. 140.
- ↑ The tomb of Adrian VI. is in the chapel of the High Altar, in the Church of Santa Maria dell’ Anima. A print of it may be seen in the work of Ciacconio.
