The Arch of Castel Vecchio at Verona

IN Verona, there are many tryumphant Arches; among the rest, there is one Gate, called Castel Vecchio: the which, truely, is of good proportion: this Arch, as men conceaue, was wrought both before and behind, and also on the sides: it had two goings in, as you may perceaue by the ground which is yet séene, although I shewed but one side onely. This building was measured by the same foot, wherewith the Arch of Pola aforesayd was measured. The widenes of this Arch is ten foote and an halfe: the thicknesse of the Columnes, is two foot and two ounces: the intercolumnes, are 4. foot and 3. ounces: the Pilaster or Pillar of the Arch, is 2. foote and 2. ounces broad. The thickenesse of the Arch in the sides inward, is 4. foot and an halfe: the widenesse of the Tabernacle betwéene the Columnes, is two foot and ten ounces: and thus much for the widenesse and thickenesse: but comming to the height, the Base of the Pedestall of the Columnes, together with the Plinthus, is one foote and thrée ounces high: the flat of the Pedestall, is foure foot, thrée ounces and an halfe: the Cornice is ten ounces and an halfe: the height of the Base of the Columnes, is one foot: the height of the body of the Columne, without Base or Capitall, is 17. foote and thrée ounces: the height of the Capitall, is two foot, foure ounces and an halfe. The height of the Architraue, is one foot and an halfe: the height of the Fréese is one foote, 7. ounces and an halfe: the height of the Cornice, is one foot and ten ounces: and although that in this Figure there is the Frontispice, yet you sée it not in the Arch; for from the first Cornice vpwards there is nothing at all: neuerthelesse, although the wall is this yéere consumed. yet you may sée there some signes, whereby a man may conceaue that the Frontispice hath béene there. The vppermost Cornice is not there, and therefore I set no measures, according to all Antiquities: but I haue made one, with such measure and formes, as my selfe would haue made it, hauing for a common rule, that the vppermost things stand the fourth part lesse, then the nethermost: this Cornice therefore, shall be the fourth part lesse then that which standeth vnder it, and is thus deuided, that the whole height should be set in foure parts and an halfe: the halfe part shall be for the Astragal with the list, and the fourth part shalbe for the Scima. The Proiecture must be like the height, & so shall this vppermost Cornice be made in maner aforesaid. Betwéene the Columnes stand Tabernacles, wherein there were Images, whereof the widenesse is two foot and ten ounces: the height is seuen foote, and the depth thereof in the wal, is one foote and ten ounces: the height of their Basement, is 4. foot, with the Base and Scima: the little Pillars on eyther side, are halfe a foot thicke: the Architraue is 7. ounces and an halfe: the Fréese is 6. ounces high: the height of the Cornice without the Scima is 4. ounces: the height of the Timpanum of the Frontispice, is 8. ounces. Aboue these Tabernacles are small tablets with other Cornices: the which tablets are two foot broad, and hold one foot in height: the height of each Cornice is 11. ounces: the height of the opennesse of the Arch, although it be somewhat dig•d below, is yet twise higher then broad: for the widenesse thereof, is 10. foote and a quarter: and the height is 25. foote and an halfe. The Capitall vnder the Arch, is as high as broad: the worke of this Arch is Composita, and brauely set out with Images of Marble and Copper, as you may perceaue in the voyd places.

This is the ground of the Arch following.

THis forme of the Arch Tryumphant of Castel Vecchio in Verona, is made as it is here set downe: and although from the Freeses vpwards, there are no signes of ornaments; neuerthelesse, it did stand so. And for that the parts hereof are o•mall that you can hardly vnderstand them, in the next side they shall bee for downe in a greater and playner form. This Arch tryumphant (by that which is found written within the inner parts thereof) by some is sayd, that Vitruuius caused it to be made: but I beleeue it not, and that for two reasons or causes. First, that I see not in the Inscription, that it saith, Vitruuius Polio: but it is possible that it was another Vitruuius that caused it to be made. The second reason is this, that Vitruuius Polio, in his writing of Architecture, doeth vtterly condemne and reiect Mutiles and Dentiles, standing together in one Cornice, and such a Cornice is found in this Arch. And therefore I conclude, that Vitruuius, the great and learned Architector, made it not: but bee it as it will, this Arch hath a good forme and proportion.

These letters are vnder the Tabernacle in the Pedestall. C. GAVIO. C. F. STRABONI.

These letters are cut in she inward side of the Arch. L. VITRWIVS. LL. CERDO ARCHITECTVS.

These letters are also in the Pedestall of the Tabernacle. M. GAVIO. C. F. MACRO.

BEcause I haue not fully written the particular measures of the members of the aforesayd Arch, neither haue I shewed it in such forme that a man may conceaue the particular measures: therefore you may sée them here set out in greater forme, and in such sort as they are: and first, the height of the Plinthus, vnder the Base of the Pedestall, marked G. is a foote and thrée ounces. The height of the Base abous vpon it, is 6. ounces. The flat of the Pedestall, marked F. is 4. foot, 3. ounces and an halfe high. The Cornice vpon it, is 10. ounces and an halfe high. The Base of the Columne, is one foote high. The Plinthus of this Base turneth into a Corona lisis; which me thinkes, is very pleasant: for that I haue two some Gréeke Pedestals so. The Columne is strycked, chanelled or hollowed, from the toy to the bottom. The height of the Capitall of this Columne, is one foot, 4. ounces and an halfe: but the forme is not here, because it is shewed in the beginning of the Order of Composita: which Capitall, in effect, is Composita, although the Arch may be wholly accompted to bee Corinthia: and this Capitall standeth in that place, maked C. Also, in the same place you see the Capitall of the impost of the Arch, which is marked with D. But the little Capitall of the Tabernacle betweene the Columnes, is here marked H. And the Cornice also, with the Ease, marked E. is that which is vnder the Tabernacle. The Figure C. is the table aboue the sayd Tabernacles, and the Figure marked D. is the Architraue, Fréese and Cornice, of the Frontispicium of the Tabernacle. The Figure marked with B. is the worke which goeth about the Arch: the Cornice marked A. is the principall Cornice aboue the Arch; the which, in effect, is very comely, and well wrought: yet it is vicious, as I haue often sayd; that is, the Mutiles and the Dentiles therein are by Vitruuius reiected, with many strong reasons. But in this, many men affirme, that fithence Vitruuius time, many workemen haue made Mutiles with Dentiles, in most places of Italy, and there round about, so that now there is no question made thereof; but euery man hath libertie to make that in his worke which he findeth and séeth in Antiquities: whereunto I answere, that disprouing the same, they haue prooued their cause to be good. But if they will acknowledge Vitruuius for a learned Architector, as most workemen affirme, then (reading Vitruuius with good iudgement) they must confesse and acknowledge, that they haue done amisse therein.

The halfe of the foot, wherewith the Ichnographie, and the Orthographie, together with the ornaments of this Building, are measured.