Page:The Life of Michael Angelo.djvu/188

 am, I do not wish to abandon it, for I serve through love of God and place all my hopes in Him.”

He did not accept any payment for this sacred task.

He found himself engaged in a struggle with numerous enemies: “the faction of San Gallo," as Vasari calls them, and with all the administrators, tradesmen and contractors of the building, whose frauds—to which San Gallo had always closed his eyes—he denounced. "Michael Angelo," says Vasari,"wrong quotation mark [sic]delivered St. Peter from thieves and robbers."

A coalition was formed against him, headed by the impudent Nanni di Baccio Bigio, an architect whom Vasari accuses of having robbed Michael Angelo, and who aspired to supplant him. They spread about the rumour that Michael Angelo knew nothing of architecture; that he was wasting money and merely destroying the work of his predecessor. The committee in charge of the administration of the building, itself taking part against its architect, instituted, in 1551, a solemn inquiry, presided over by the Pope. Inspectors and workmen, supported by Cardinals Salviati and Cervini, came and gave evidence against Michael Angelo. But the artist hardly