CHAPTER IX

PALACE ARCHITECTURE OF THE RENAISSANCE IN NORTH ITALY

Marked local character of the palace architecture of Venice--Façade of east side of court of the Ducal Palace--Irregularities of its composition--North side of the same court--The Giant’s stair--Façade of the Scuola di San Marco--Composition of the main portal--Notable refinements of execution in this portal--Façade of the Scuola di San Rocco--Unique architectural character of the palaces of the Grand Canal--Those of the mediæval period alone have the distinctive Venetian character--Neo-classic details used sparingly in the early Renaissance palaces of Venice--The Palazzo Corner-Spinelli--Disposition and character of its windows--Questionable propriety of the panelling of its pilasters--The beauty of the façade independent of its neo-classic details--The Palazzo Contarini--The varied proportions of its pilasters--The Palazzo Vendramini--The distinctive Venetian character altered by the application of complete orders--This character largely lost in the palaces of the Roman Renaissance--The Palazzo del Consiglio of Verona--Its mediæval scheme--The Palazzo Comunale of Brescia--The Ospedale Maggiore of Milan--Its lack of distinctive character--The later palace architecture of north Italy 154