Chvp. II. ITALIAN.

147
Kvstein used by Vaubaii and his scliool. who, for a long period, deprived him of the credit of it.
15efore him all the ramparts of a fortification were round or s<(uare. He introduced a new
method, inventing the triangular and pentangular bastion, with plain fosses, flanks, and
S()uare bases, wliifli doubled tiie support ; he moreover not only tianked the curtain, but
all the fosse to tlie next bastion, the covered way, and glacis. The mystery of this art
consisted in defLMiding every part of tlie inclosure by the flank of a bastion
; hence,
making it round or square, the front of it, that is, the sjjace which remains in the triangle,
which was before undefended, was by San IVIieheli provided against. We cannot,
however, further jiroceed on this subject, which belongs to military, which at that period
was intimately connected with civil architecture. The Porta del Pallio at Verona has
been mentioned
;
that city, however, contains another gate of great architectural merit by this
master, tlie Porta Nkovci, a s(]uare edifice, supported within by a number of piers of stone,
with enclosures or ai)artments for the guards, artillery, &c. The proportions, as a whole,
are pleasing
; it is of the Doric order, devoid of all extraneous ornament, solid, strong, and
suitable to the purposes of the building. Except in the middle gate and the architectural
parts, the work is rusticated. Tlie exterior facade stands on a wall, with two large pyra-
midal pilasters of marble rising from the bottom of the fosse ; at the top are two round
enclosures approaching almost to towers. In the interior, to the two gates near the angles
are two corresponding long ))assages, vaulted, leading to a number of subterraneous galleries
and rooms. I'or beauty, however, we do not think this gate so beautiful as that of del Pallio,
which we here give
(_/7(7. 172.). But the gem of this great master is the little circular
chapel at San liernardino, wliose beauty, we think, has scarcelv ever been surpassed, and
which exhibits, in a striking degree, the early i)erf'ection of the \'enctian school. It was not
linisiied under San .Micheli, and blemishes are to be found in it ; it is nevertheless an ex(|ui-
site ])rotlucti()n, antl, in a suri)risingly small s])ace, exhibits a refinement which elsewhere e
scarcely know equalled. The works which he designe;! surpass, we believe, in number
those of all tlie masters of Italy, Palladio, perhajis, exce])ted. He gave a tone to his art
in the Venetian states, which endured for a considerable period. His death occurred in
1549.
.'5,51. Contemporary with San Micheli, was another extraordinary genius of this school,
born at Florence,Jacojio Tatti by name, but more usually called Sansovino, from the
country of his master, Andrea Contucci di RIonte Sansovino. Such was the respect for
this artist in Venice, his adopted city, that at a moment when it became necessary to raise
by means of taxation a large sum on the citizens, the senate made a sjiecial exemption in
favour of him and Titian. The Roman school might lay claim to him, if the works he
executed at Rome, and not his style, would justify it ; but that is so marked, so tinctured
with the system of arcades with orders, its distinguishing feature, that an inspecfion of
his works will immediately satisfy even a superficial observer. He was a great master of
his art
;
and though he does not in so great a degree ap]iear to have profited by the ex-
amples of anti<|uity as the architect last named, he has left behind buildings, which, for
picturesque efiect, leave him little inferior in our rating. He was the architect of the
library of St. Mark at Venice, a portion whereof is given in
fg.
173.
; a building o<
noble design, notwithstanding the impro))rieties with which it is replete. It consists of
two orders ; the lower one of highly ornamented Doric, and the upper one Ionic and very
graceful in effect. Of both these orders, as will be seen in the figure, the entablatures are
of inordinate comparative height. The up])er one was expressly so set out for the purpose
of exhibiting the beautiful sculptures with which it is decorated. The cornice is crowned
with a balustrade, on whose piers statues were placed by the ablest scholars of .Sansovino.
A portico occupies the ground floor, which is raised three steps from the level of the
jiia/.za. This portico consists of twenty-one arcades, wliose piers are decorated with
columns. In the interior are arches corresponding to the external ones, sixteen whereof,
with their internal aiiartments, are appropriated for shops. Opposite the centre arch is a
magnificent staircase leading to the hall, bevond which is the librarv of St. i\Iark. The
La