rtifications of their State. Nor did any long time
pass before he took in hand, by order of the Council of Ten, the very
rich and beautiful fabric of the Library of S. Marco, opposite to the
Palazzo della Signoria, with such a wealth of carvings, cornices,
columns, capitals, and half-length figures over the whole work, that
it is a marvel; and it is all done without any sparing of expense, so
that up to the present day it has cost one hundred and fifty thousand
ducats. And it is held in great estimation in that city, because it is
full of the richest pavements, stucco-work, and stories, distributed
among the halls of the building, with public stairs adorned by various
pictures, as has been related in the Life of Battista Franco; besides
many other beautiful appurtenances, and the rich ornaments that it has
at the principal door of entrance, which give it majesty and grandeur,
making manifest the ability of Sansovino. This method of building was
the reason that in that city, into which up to that time there had
never entered any method save that of making their houses and palaces
with the same order, each one always continuing the same things with
the same measure and ancient use, without varying according to the
sites as they found them or according to convenience--this, I say, was
the reason that buildings both public and private began to be erected
with new designs and better order.

The first palace that he built was that of M. Giorgio Cornaro, a most
beautiful work, erected with all proper appurtenances and ornaments at
a cost of seventy thousand crowns. Moved by which, a gentleman of the
Delfino family caused Sansovino to build a smaller one, at a cost of
thirty thousand crowns, which was much extolled and very beautiful.
Then he built that of Moro, at a cost of twenty thousand crowns, which
likewise was much extolled; and afterwards many others of less cost in
the city and the neighbourhood. Wherefore it may be said that at the
present day that magnificent city, in the quantity and quality of her
sumptuous and well-conceived edifices, shines resplendent and is in
that respect what she is through the ability, industry, and art of
Jacopo Sansovino, who therefore deserves the highest praise; seeing
that with those works he has been the reason that the gentlemen of
Venice have introduced modern architecture into their city, in that
not only has that been done there which has passed through his hands,
but also many--na