rodio of Bologna, and
many others, which may be seen in all parts of Italy, erected at
incredible cost. I have seen and examined all these buildings, as
well as many sculptures of these times, particularly at Ravenna, but
I have never found any memorial of the masters, and frequently not
even the date when they were erected, so that I cannot but marvel at
the simplicity and indifference to fame exhibited by the men of that
age. But to return to our subject. After the buildings just
enumerated there arose some persons of a more exalted temper, who, if
they did not succeed in lighting upon the good, at least made the
attempt.

The first was Buono, of whom I knew neither the country nor the
surname, since he himself has put nothing beyond his simple name to
the works which he has signed. He was both a sculptor and architect,
and he worked at first in Ravenna, building many palaces and
churches, and executing some sculptures, in the year of grace 1152.
Becoming known by these things, he was summoned to Naples, where he
began the Castel Capoano and the Castel dell' Uovo, although they
were afterwards finished by others, as will be related. Subsequently,
in the time of the Doge Domenico Morosini, he founded the campanile
of S. Marco at Venice, with much prudence and good judgment, and so
well did he drive the piles and lay the foundations of that tower,
that it has never moved a hair's breadth, as many buildings erected
in that city before his time may be seen to have done. Perhaps it was
from him that the Venetians learned their present method of laying
the foundations of the rich and beautiful edifices which are erected
every day to adorn that most noble city. At the same time it must be
admitted that the tower has no other excellence of its own, either in
style or decoration, or indeed anything which is worthy of much
praise. It was finished under the Popes Anastasius IV. and Adrian IV.
in the year 1154. Buono was also the architect of the Church of S.
Andrea at Pistoia, and a marble architrave over the door, full of
figures executed in the Gothic style, is his work; On this architrave
his name is carved, as well as the date at which the work was done by
him, which was in the year 1166. Being afterwards summoned to
Florence, he prepared the design for enlarging the Church of S. Maria
Maggiore, which was carried out. The church was then outside the
city, and was held in veneration, because Pope Pelagius had
consecrated i