He answered, 'I
should like to hear these deputies speak.' The Cardinal Marcello
rejoined: 'We are here.' Michael Angelo then remarked: 'My lord,
above these three windows there will be other three in the vault,
which is to be built of travertine.' 'You never told us anything
about this,' said the Cardinal. Michael Angelo responded: 'I am
not, nor do I mean to be, obliged to tell your lordships, or
anybody else, what I ought or wish to do. It is your business to
provide the money, and to see that it is not stolen. As regards
the plans of the building, you have to leave them to me.' Then he
turned to the Pope and said: 'Holy Father, behold what gains are
mine! Unless the hardships I endure are beneficial to my soul, I
lose my time and my labour.' The Pope, who loved him, laid his
hands upon his shoulders and said: 'You are gaining both for soul
and body; have no fear!' Michael Angelo's self-defence increased
the Pope's love, and he ordered him to repair next day with Vasari
to the Vigna Giulia, where they held long discourses upon matters
of art."
Vasari also tells us of the transfer of a piece of engineering work from
Michael Angelo to his enemy--if such a small man deserves to be called the
enemy of Michael Angelo--Nanni di Baccio Bigio. The old bridge of Santa
Maria had long shown signs of giving way, and it had to be rebuilt. Paul
III. entrusted the work to Michael Angelo.
Pages:
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257