If Michael Angelo
at once proceeded to Rome, he and his assistants may have begun work
towards the end of August. During all this period we must notice how
troubled he was by the affairs of his family and his household
arrangements. Michael Angelo, while living like a poor man in Rome, sent
money to, and purchased land for, his family in Florence, and helped to
establish Buonarroto in business, but they were never satisfied, and his
letters to his father and Giovan Simone show how his mind was troubled.
There is a letter in the British Museum that belongs to this summer of
1508.
"MOST REVEREND FATHER,--I have learnt by your last how things go
with you, and how Giovan Simone behaves himself. I have not had
worse news for ten years than on the evening when I read your
letter, for I thought that I had arranged their affairs so that
they had reason to hope they would make a good shop with my aid.
Now, I see, they do the contrary, especially Giovan Simone. From
this I know that it is profitless to try and do him good. Had it
been possible on the day when I received your letter I should have
mounted on horseback and by this time should have settled
everything; but not being able to do so, I write him such a letter
as appears to me to be necessary, and if from now he does not
change his nature, or if ever he takes from the home so much as a
stick, or does anything to displease you, I pray you to let me
know, because I will obtain leave from the Pope to come to you,
when I shall show him his error.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157