hat architect; for new plans had been proposed in opposition
by Michelagnolo Buonarroti, and out of this change of plans many
contentions afterwards arose, as will be related in the proper place. It
appeared to Michelagnolo, and also to many others who saw the model of
San Gallo, and such parts as were carried into execution by him, that
Antonio's composition was too much cut up by projections and by members
which are too small, as are also the columns, the arches upon arches,
and the cornices upon cornices. Besides this, it seems not to be
approved that the two bell-towers in his plan, the four little tribunes,
and the principal cupola, should have that ornament, or rather, garland
of columns, many and small. In like manner, men did not much approve,
nor do they now, of those innumerable pinnacles that are in it as a
finish to the work; and it appears that in that model he imitated the
style and manner of the Germans rather than the good manner of the
ancients, which is now followed by the best architects. The
above-mentioned model of S. Pietro was finished by L'Abacco a short time
after the death of Antonio; and it was found that, in so far as
appertained merely to the woodwork and the labour of the carpenters, it
had cost four thousand one hundred and eighty-four crowns. In executing
it, Antonio L'Abacco, who had charge of the work, acquitted himself very
well, having a good knowledge of the matters of architecture, as is
proved by the book of the buildings of Rome that he printed, which is
very beautiful. This model, which is now to be found in the principal
chapel of S. Pietro, is thirty-five palme[24] in length, twenty-six in
breadth, and twenty palme and a half in height; wherefore, according to
the model, the work would have been one thousand and forty palme in
length, or one hundred and four canne,[25] and three hundred and sixty
palme in breadth, or thirty-six canne, for the reason that the canna
which is used in Rome, according to the measure of the masons, is equal
to ten palme.

For the making of this model and of many designs, there were assigned to
Antonio by the Wardens of the building of S. Pietro fifteen hundred
crowns, of which he received one thousand in cash; but the rest he never
drew, for a short time after that work he passed to the other life. He
strengthened the piers of the same Church of S. Pietro, to the end that
the weight of the tribune might be supported securely; and he filled all
the sc