He finished all this work in twenty months(45)
without assistance,(46) not even any one to grind the colours. It is true
that I have heard him say that the work is not finished as he would have
wished, as he was prevented by the hurry of the Pope, who demanded of him
one day when he would finish the chapel. Michael Angelo said: "_When I
can_." The Pope, angered, added: "_Do you want me to have you thrown down
off this scaffolding?_" Michael Angelo, hearing this, said to himself:
"_Nay, you shall not have me thrown down_," and as soon as the Pope had
gone away he had the scaffolding taken down and uncovered his work upon
All Saints Day. It was seen with great satisfaction by the Pope (who that
very day visited the chapel), and all Rome crowded to admire it. It lacked
the retouches "a secco" of ultramarine and of gold in certain places,
which would have made it appear more rich. Julius, his fervour having
abated, wished that Michael Angelo should supply them; but he considering
the business it would be to reerect the scaffolding, replied that there
was nothing important wanting. "_It should be touched with gold_," replied
the Pope. Michael Angelo said to him familiarly, as he had a way of doing
with his Holiness: "_I do not see that men wear gold._" The Pope again
said: "_It will seem poor_." "_Those who are painted here were poor
also_," Michael Angelo replied. This he threw out in jest; but so the
vault has remained. Michael Angelo received for this work and all his
expenses three thousand ducats, of which I have heard him say he spent in
colours about twenty or twenty-five.
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