he remarked, perhaps by way of putting Antonio to the trial, “All these are beautiful, but it would not be amiss that we should look at one which has been made by our Melighino.” Thereupon Antonio, getting somewhat angry, and convinced that the Pope was only making a jest of him, replied, “Holy Father, Melighino is but an architect in joke.” Hearing which, the Pope, who was seated, turned towards Antonio, and bowing his head almost to the ground, made answer: “Antonio, it is our pleasure that Melighino should be an architect in earnest, and so you may see by the stipend he receives.” Having said this, he rose and went away, dismissing all who were present, and herein he perhaps intended to show that it is sometimes by the will of princes, rather than by their own merits, that certain men are conducted to such greatness as the said princes shall please to confer.[1] The cornice in question v%s afterwards erected by Michelagnolo, who gave an almost entirely different form to the greater part of that palace, as will be related in his life.
At the death of Antonio Sangallo, there remained behind him his brother, Battista Gobbo, a man of considerable ingenuity, who had devoted nearly the whole of his time to the buildings of his brother, but was not treated very well by him. This Battista did not live many years after Antonio, and when he died he left all that he possessed to the Florentine Brotherhood of the Misericordia in Rome, but with the condition that they should cause to be printed a book of Remarks on Vitruvius, which he had written. That book has, nevertheless, not been given to the world, although it is believed that it may be a good one,[2]f seeing that Battista was well acquainted with the details of his art, possessed admirable judgment, and was a most upright and sincere man.
But to return to Antonio. His death having taken place at Terni, he was carried to Rome and there borne to the tomb with very great pomp, being followed to his grave by all the
- ↑ Piacenza, in his additions to Baldinucci, has the following plaint:— “Too many of the race of the Melighini may be found, even in our own day, nor.i3 there any lack of the Paul III. genus.”
- ↑ In the Corsini Library in Rome is still preserved the printed copy of Vitruvius, on which Battista wrote his marginal notes, and wherein he designed numerous figures, by way of illustration to the text. His translated MS. of the same work is also there, but is exceedingly obscure, and this may perhajDS have been one cause of its not having been printed.
