Signor Fabriczy holds that a Cupid preserved in the
museum at Turin may be Michael Angelo's original work, but the
translator has not seen it.
24 Michael Angelo arrived in Rome for the first time at the end of June
1496, and wrote in July to Lorenzo di' Pier Francesco de' Medici.
The letter bears a superscription to Sandro Botticelli; historians
presume from this that it was not safe to write openly to any of the
Medici.
"2nd day of July, 1496.
"Magnificent Lorenzo,--I only write to inform you that last Saturday
we arrived safely, and went at once to visit the Cardinal di San
Giorgio; and I presented your letter to him. It appeared to me that
he was pleased to see me, and he expressed a wish that I should go
immediately to inspect his collection of statues. I spent the whole
day there, and for that reason was unable to deliver all your
letters. On Sunday the Cardinal came into the new house, and had me
sent for. I went to him, and he asked me what I thought about the
things I had seen. I replied by stating my opinion, and certainly I
can say with sincerity that there are many fine things in the
collection. Then he asked me if I had the courage to make some
beautiful work. I answered that I should not be able to achieve
anything so great, but that he should see what I could do.
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