Unhappily this rule was not observed.

Under Pius V., Vignola and Piero Ligorio did indeed continue his tradition; under Gregory XIII., Sixtus V., and Clement VIII., Giacomo della Porta made no substantial alterations; and in 1590 Domenico Fontana finished the dome.
But during the pontificate of Paul V., Carlo Maderno resumed the form of the Latin cross, and completed the nave and vestibule, as they now stand, upon this altered plan (1614).

The consequence is what has been already noted--at a moderate distance from the church the dome is lost to view; it only takes its true position of predominance when seen from far.

In the year 1626, S.Peter's was consecrated by Urban VIII., and the mighty work was finished.

It remained for Bernini to add the colonnades of the piazza, no less picturesque in their effect than admirably fitted for the pageantry of world-important ceremonial.