388 THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. Ciiap. XI as great a proof of judgment, as that which he used towards Perugino was an evidence of kindness of heart. 1 During this period of progress in the career of Peruzzi, the materials for a thorough insight into the principles of ancient structures were ready to his hand. As the foun dations of old edifices were laid hare one after the other, artists flocked to the favoured places, and measured the ground-plans, the diameters of columns, and the thickness of walls. From fragments of bas-reliefs, they got an additional insight into the methods familiar to the sculp tors of the best age. Perspective was necessarily applied in its most scientific abstruseness to realize the outward appearance of buildings, the fallen members of which were too bulky to be raised, or too much injured to allow of reedification. Through perspective, of which Peruzzi became a master, we may well suppose that he gained a quicker knowledge of architecture than he might otherwise have attained. But he owed much also to Vitruvius whose text he annotated and translated, leaving the sheets to be afterwards published by the industry of his pupil Serlio. 2 The latter admits that he was first led to under stand architecture by following a course of perspective, 3 and it is likely that the same thing happened to Bal- dassare. 4 Favoured by circumstances, as Peruzzi was, and gifted as we have already seen, it was natural that his accomplishments should soon become known; and we note without surprise how eagerly Agostino Chigi, the rich banker of Sienna then residing at Rome, took ad vantage of his skill to erect a palace on the Tiber banks."' 1 If the ceiling should be proved at a future time to have been by the oldBramante (Bramantino), we must then say, he is the master of Peruzzi, and that Baldassare in herited his art exactly as we see it applied at the Farnesina. 2 Lomazzo (Idea del Tempio, p. 14), charges Serlio with plagia rism; but he is hard on Serlio who acknowledges his debt. 3 See Serlio in Della Valle, Lett. San. III. 174. 5. 4 The rivalry of Bramante spurr ed Peruzzi very strongly, says Va sari (VIII. 22*2.) 5 Vas. VIII. 222. 3.
