" He now turns to his
annoyances at San Lorenzo: "And given my pension as was said, I
will never stop working for Pope Clement with what strength I
have, though that be little, for I am old. At the same time I must
not be slighted and affronted as I am now, for it weighs greatly
on my spirits, and has prevented me from doing what I wished to do
these many months; one cannot work at one thing with the hands,
and at another with the brain, and especially in marble. 'Tis said
here that these annoyances are meant to spur me on; but I maintain
that those are scurvy spurs that make a good steed jib. I have not
touched my pension during the last year, and struggle with
poverty. I am alone in my troubles, and have many of them, which
keep me more busy than my art, for I cannot keep a servant for
lack of means."
There is a kind letter from Michael Angelo to Sebastiano del Piombo that
belongs to this period, May 1525.(135) It refers to a picture by
Sebastiano, probably the portrait of Anton Francesco degli Albizzi,
referred to in letter cccxcvi.:--
"MY MOST DEAR SEBASTIANO,--Last evening our friend the Capitano
Cuio(136) and certain other gentlemen were so good as to invite me
to sup with them, which gave me very great pleasure, since it took
me a little out of my melancholy, or rather folly. Not only did I
enjoy the supper, which was very good, but I had far more pleasure
in the conversation, and more than all it increased my pleasure to
hear your name mentioned by the said Capitano Cuio; nor was this
all, for it further rejoiced me exceedingly to hear from the
Capitano that, in art, you are peerless in the world, and that so
you were esteemed in Rome.
Pages:
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207