want of judgment betrayed by those who had the superintendence of the building, have maimed and curtailed it in various -parts: nay, they would have done much worse, had it not been for the care of Bernardino Brugnoli, a kinsman of San Michele, who made a perfect model of the whole, after which he now carries forward the construction of the edifice as he does that of many others.[1]
For the monks of Santa Maria-in-Organo, or rather the Brethren of the Monte Oliveto in Verona, San Michele prepared a design for the façade of their church: it was of the Corinthian order and exceedingly beautiful; but having been carried to a certain height by Paolo San Michele it was then suffered to remain in that condition by reason of the large costs which those monks had been put to for other matters; or more certainly perhaps because of the death of Don Cipriano, a Veronese[2] brother of that order, and one much venerated among the brotherhood, he being a man of holy life and of high authority in his order, of which he was twice General: by this Don Cipriano it was that the work had been commenced.[3]
In San Giorgio of Verona, which is a monastery belonging to the Priests Regular of San Giorgio-in-Alega, Michele San Michele executed certain works, the Cupola of that church being the principal, and this was a structure of great beauty. It was besides so difficult a work that few believed it likely to succeed, the opinion of many persons being that the building could not possibly support the weight to be imposed thereon, because of the weakness of the buttresses; but these were strengthened by our architect in such a manner that there has never since been any cause to fear disaster. In the same monastery San Michele designed and laid the foundations of a very fine Campanile or bell tower, all of hewn stone, partly tufa, and partly of a harder stone. This was brought to a state of considerable forwardness under his own direction, and is now in course of continuance by the above-named Bernardino his nephew, who is conducting it to completion.
