DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0084
68
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
so that in a few years he not only became equal to his in-
structor, but in some respects surpassed him ; wherefore,
becoming old, Niccola retired to Pisa, leaving the manage-
ment of all their labours to his son. Pope Urban IV expired
-about this time in Perugia, and Giovanni was summoned to
that city, to construct the sepulchral monument of that
pontiff. This work, executed in marble, was demolished,
together with the tomb of Pope Martin IV, when the
people of Perugia enlarged their cathedral, so that there
remain now but a few relics, scattered over different parts
of the church. About the same time, the Perugians,
profiting by the skill and industry of a Friar of the Sil-
vestrini, had conducted an abundant water-course into
their city, by means of leaden pipes, from the hill of
Pacciano, two miles distant; they now therefore confided
the erection of the fountain to Giovanni Pisano,* with
-all its ornaments, whether in marble or bronze. Giovanni
therefore commenced the work, and constructed a range of
three basins, placed one above the other : the first is of
marble, raised on twelve steps, each having twelve sides; the
second, also of marble, reposes on columns, rising from the
■centre of the first; and the third, which is of bronze, is sup-
ported on three figures, and has griffins, also of bronze, in
the midst of it, which pour the water forth on all sides.
Then, as Giovanni considered himself to have worked suc-
cessfully in this fountain, he inscribed his name upon it.
About the year 1560, as the arches and conduits of the aque-
duct, which had cost seventy thousand gold ducats, had be-
come much injured,—nay, were in a great part ruined,—
Vincenzio Danti, a sculptor and architect of Perugia, did
himself no small credit by most ingeniously reconducting the
water to the said fountain in its original course, yet without
rebuilding the arches, which would have been an excessively
^costly work.f
This undertaking being completed, Giovanni resolved to
leave Perugia and return to Pisa, being desirous of seeing
his father, now become old, and also indisposed; but, pass-
ing through Florence, he was compelled to delay some time
* See the learned “Letters” of Annibale Mariotti.—Perugia, 1788.
t The sculptured ornaments of this fountain have been restored
witbin the last few years.—Sohorn.
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
so that in a few years he not only became equal to his in-
structor, but in some respects surpassed him ; wherefore,
becoming old, Niccola retired to Pisa, leaving the manage-
ment of all their labours to his son. Pope Urban IV expired
-about this time in Perugia, and Giovanni was summoned to
that city, to construct the sepulchral monument of that
pontiff. This work, executed in marble, was demolished,
together with the tomb of Pope Martin IV, when the
people of Perugia enlarged their cathedral, so that there
remain now but a few relics, scattered over different parts
of the church. About the same time, the Perugians,
profiting by the skill and industry of a Friar of the Sil-
vestrini, had conducted an abundant water-course into
their city, by means of leaden pipes, from the hill of
Pacciano, two miles distant; they now therefore confided
the erection of the fountain to Giovanni Pisano,* with
-all its ornaments, whether in marble or bronze. Giovanni
therefore commenced the work, and constructed a range of
three basins, placed one above the other : the first is of
marble, raised on twelve steps, each having twelve sides; the
second, also of marble, reposes on columns, rising from the
■centre of the first; and the third, which is of bronze, is sup-
ported on three figures, and has griffins, also of bronze, in
the midst of it, which pour the water forth on all sides.
Then, as Giovanni considered himself to have worked suc-
cessfully in this fountain, he inscribed his name upon it.
About the year 1560, as the arches and conduits of the aque-
duct, which had cost seventy thousand gold ducats, had be-
come much injured,—nay, were in a great part ruined,—
Vincenzio Danti, a sculptor and architect of Perugia, did
himself no small credit by most ingeniously reconducting the
water to the said fountain in its original course, yet without
rebuilding the arches, which would have been an excessively
^costly work.f
This undertaking being completed, Giovanni resolved to
leave Perugia and return to Pisa, being desirous of seeing
his father, now become old, and also indisposed; but, pass-
ing through Florence, he was compelled to delay some time
* See the learned “Letters” of Annibale Mariotti.—Perugia, 1788.
t The sculptured ornaments of this fountain have been restored
witbin the last few years.—Sohorn.