father and two brothers, the latter both endowed with very fine parts; of this one of them, named Jacopo, gave proof in the study of letters; while the other, since called Don Camillo, became a Canon Regular, and was finally made General of his Order.
Arrived in Rome, Michele studied the antiquities of ancient architecture with the most careful and zealous devotion, mea suring and examining all the buildings and other edifices minutely, insomuch that no long time had elapsed before he became known, and even of good repute, not in Rome only, but in all the districts lying around that capital. Moved by the fame thus early acquired, the people, of Orvieto invited our young architect to their city, where they made him superintendent of works to their so frequently cited cathedral,[1] allowing him a most honourable stipend. While in the service of the Orvietans, San Michele was in like manner invited to Monte Fia,scone, for the building of their principal church that is to say;[2] and thus, serving now one and then the other of those two places, he performed such works of good architecture as are to be seen therein.
Among other fabrics erected by Michele San Michele[3] in Orvieto, may be particularized a magnificent sepulchral monument constructed in the church of San Domenico,[4] for a noble Sienese—one of the Petrucci family, as I think —a structure of very great cost, and which proved to be eminently beautiful.
San Michele also prepared a large number of designs for private houses, both at Orvieto and Monte Fiascone, giving evidence in all cases of very great judgment and forethought. Wherefore Pope Clement VII., proposing to avail himself of
- ↑ The Altar of the Three Kings in the Cathedral of Orvieto is one of San Michele’s works, and with respect to this performance he is said to have had a dispute with Antonio San Gallo, wherein he chose Pope Clement himself for umpire.—Förster.
- ↑ The Cathedral of Monte Fiascone is an octangular building of exceedingly beautiful form, with a very elegant and graceful cupola. —Bottari.
- ↑ For the works of San Michele in the Cathedral of Orvieto, see the Storia del Duomo d'Orvieto by the Padre Della Valle, Rome, 1791.
- ↑ A sepulchral chamber constructed beneath the earth: for details respecting this and other fabrics of San Michele, our readers may consult the work of Ronzani and Luciolli, entitled Fabbriche civili ecclesiastiche e militari di Michele Sammichele Architettore Veronese, &c., Venice, 1831.
