out to go as Ambassador from his Republic. But
Navagiero had scarcely arrived in France after a hurried journey, when
he died, and this work remained unfinished. A truly rare work it would
have been, thus executed by Francesco with the advice and guidance of
two men of such distinction; but it was left unfinished, as we have
said, and, what was worse, in its incomplete condition it received some
injury, I know not what, in the absence of Francesco. However, spoiled
as it was, it was bought by Messer Bartolommeo Lonichi, who has never
consented to give it up to anyone, although he has been much besought
and offered vast prices.

Before this, Francesco had made two smaller globes, one of which is in
the possession of Mazzanti, Archpriest of the Duomo of Verona, and the
other belonged to Count Raimondo della Torre, and is now in the hands of
his son, Count Giovan Batista, who holds it very dear, because this one,
also, was made with the measurements and personal assistance of
Fracastoro, who was a very familiar friend of Count Raimondo.

Finally, growing weary of the extraordinary labour that miniatures
demand, Francesco devoted himself to painting and to architecture, in
which he became very skilful, executing many works in Venice and in
Padua. About that time the Bishop of Tournai, a very rich and noble
Fleming, had come to Italy in order to study letters, to see the
country, and to learn our manners and ways of living. This man,
delighting much in architecture, and happening to be in Padua, became so
enamoured of the Italian method of building that he resolved to take the
modes of our architecture with him to his own country; and in order to
facilitate this purpose, he drew Francesco, whose ability he had
recognized, into his service with an honourable salary, meaning to take
him to Flanders, where he intended to carry out many magnificent works.
But when the time came to depart, poor Francesco, who had caused designs
to be made of all the best and greatest and most famous buildings in
Italy, was overtaken by death, while still young and the object of the
highest expectations, leaving his patron much grieved by his loss.

Francesco left an only brother, in whom, being a priest, the Dai Libri
family became extinct, after producing in succession three men most
excellent in their field of art. Nor have any disciples survived them to
keep this art alive, excepting the above-mentioned churchman, Don
Giulio, who, as we have