CHAPTER X

ARCHITECTURAL CARVING OF THE RENAISSANCE

Little architectural character in the sculpture of the Renaissance--Close imitation of Roman models--Great delicacy of design and execution in much carving of the Renaissance--Lack of vital beauty in this carving--Comparison with Greek conventional ornamentation--Exceptional beauty of foliation in the reliefs of the Lombardi--Lifeless character of the scroll leafage of Filarete--Artificial convolutions of Renaissance ornamental designs--Artificial and inorganic composition in the works of Benedetto da Maiano--Representation of artificial objects in Renaissance ornamentation--Disordered composition in the borders of the Ghiberti gates--Comparison of Greek leafage with that of the Renaissance--The grotesque in Renaissance ornamentation 167