The sublime concave of the dome,
with the four arms of the great cross of equal size, will be all at once
grasped by the eye. The huge building is like a great naturally-formed
crystal with mathematically proportioned limbs, beautiful in large things
as in small. An old writer has well said: "The cross, which Michael Angelo
made Greek, is now Latin; and if it be thus with the essential form, judge
ye of the details!" The wooden model of the dome made under Michael
Angelo's eyes is still in existence, and was followed fairly accurately by
Giacomo della Porta, who completed that portion of the work.
Amongst the other schemes that occupied Michael Angelo was the plan of the
improvements upon the Campidoglio, undertaken by a society of gentlemen
and artists. Paul III. approved their design, and we may believe, as all
Roman citizens will tell us, that Michael Angelo conceived, at least in
its broad lines, the present effect of the Capitol. Vasari informs us that
Michael Angelo's old friend, Tomaso dei Cavalieri, superintended the work
after the great sculptor's death; we may trust him not to have departed
from the master's plans. Another scheme that interested Michael Angelo
considerably was the design for the church that the Florentine residents
in Rome wished to erect to their patron saint, San Giovanni. A letter to
his nephew Lionardo mentions it.(169) "The Florentines are minded to erect
a great edifice, that is to say, their church, and all of them with one
accord put pressure on me to attend to this.
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