Bologna, but which Domenico had drawn in perspective; with an old man placed in a child’s go-cart, designed by the same and engraved with the inscription, “I am learning still.” Don Martino likewise sent a small picture containing the portrait of himself, by Domenico Giuntalocchi, and shortly afterwards he despatched the young artist in person, as was the desire of Don Ferrante, whom the works of Domenico had greatly pleased.
Arrived in Sicily, there was assigned to Domenico Giuntalocchi a very honourable stipend, with a horse and servant also, at the cost of Don Ferrante; nor had any long time elapsed, before he was set to work on the buildings and fortresses of Sicily, insomuch that having gradually abandoned painting, he betook himself to a different calling, and which for a time was more advantageous to him. Being a man of ready observation and invention, he employed the services of men well inured to heavy labour, collected beasts of burden with people to hold them in charge, and using these to convey sand, chalk, &c., he caused furnaces to be constructed, and in a short time had amassed money enough to purchase offices in Rome,[1] of which he bought at one time
- ↑ The reader, who may desire an elucidation of this expression, “to
purchase offices in Rome,” will find the same in the works of the German
historian, Ranke, who, among other remarks on the subject, has a passage to
the following purport:—“There has doubtless been justice in the complaints
raised against the exactions of Rome during the fifteenth century, but it is
also true that of the proceeds, a small part only passed into the hands of
the Pope. . . There is no doubt that money reached the Court,
if not in those extravagant sums that many have believed to have been
paid into its exchequer, yet to a very considerable extent; but arrived so
far, it was at once dispersed through channels innumerable. A large portion,
for example, was absorbed by the revenues of those offices which it had long been the practice to dispose of by sale. The income of these offices
was principally derived from perquisites and fees, and but slight restraint
was imposed on the exactions of those who had purchased them. The
jwice at which each of these appointments was re-sold, as it became vacant,
was all that accrued to the papal coffers.
“If then the Pontiff desired to undertake any costly enterprize, he was compelled to find some extraordinary expedient for procuring the means. Jubilees and indulgences were thus most welcome auxiliaries; incited by these, the piety of the faithful secured him an ample resource. He had also another mode of gaining supplies at his need. He had but to create new offices, when the sale of these was sure to afford him a respectable amount. This was an extraordinary sort of loan, and one for which the Church paid heavy interest, which had to be provided for by an increase of the imposts.
