Now I am old, and have been occupied these many months
with the work for Pope Paul. But if a little life is still left me
after all these occupations, what I have desired is, as I have
said, a little time to work for your Majesty at my art--one work to
be in marble, one in bronze, and one in painting. And if death
hinders me from carrying out my wish, and if it be possible to
carve statues or to paint in the other life, I shall not fail to
do so there, where there is no more growing old. And I pray God
that He grant your Majesty a long and happy life.
"From Rome, the day XXVI. of April, MDXLVI."
In the letters and poems of this period we note the endeavour to attain to
a style in literature full of rich conceits and elaborate compliment,
which may be compared to the style, elaborate and ornamental, but somewhat
cold and unattractive, of the frescoes in the Cappella Paolina. As he grew
older he devoted himself more entirely to architecture and literature. The
arts of sculpture and painting, as exercised by him, could not be carried
on by assistants; he now perforce had to employ himself upon work in which
the execution could be left to younger hands. He sought the help of
scholars to overhaul and set to rights his poems, sonnets, and thoughts in
words, as the masons and master-builders expressed his thoughts in
architecture--the Dome of St. Peter's, and the cornice of the Farnese
Palace. In the devotional drawings we have mentioned, and an unfinished
group in sculpture, the Deposition from the Cross, now behind the High
Altar of Santa Maria del Fiore at Florence, we have the only further
manifestation of Michael Angelo's genius in his favourite arts.
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