Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/188

176 great satisfaction to the Signor Ruberto, who wrote an account of the whole matter, which he sent to France. Finally, an agreement was entered into between Ruberto and Daniello, as to price, time of completion, and all other minutiae, when the master instantly set hand to the work with all his accustomed care and study. Commencing with the Horse, he made the form in clay, exactly as it was to be, refusing all other engagements, to devote himself to this alone; having formed the model, he prepared to cast it, and for a work of that importance he took care to obtain the advice of many founders, for the purpose of assuring the success of the operation.

It was at this time that Pius lY. having been called to the pontifical throne on the death of Paul, made it known to Daniello that he desired him to finish the Hall of the Kings, to which end the artist was enjoined to lay aside every other undertaking. Thereunto Daniello replying that he was then much occupied, being pledged to the Queen of France, but that he would prepare the Cartoons and cause the work to be carried forward by his disciples, and would besides take care to do his own part therein, that reply displeased the Pontiff, who began to think of committing the whole work to Salviati. Rendered jealous by the intimation of that purpose, Daniello took such measures, by means of the Cardinal del Carpi and of Michelagnolo, that the half of the Hall was at length given to him to paint, but the other half was accorded to Salviati, although Daniello made all possible efforts to obtain the whole, to the end that he might have gone about his work without competition and in tranquillity, after his usual leisurely manner of proceeding. Finally however, the question of this work was handled in such manner, that Daniello did nothing whatever, in addition to what he had accomplished long before, and that Salviati never finished the little which he had commenced, nay, even that little was destroyed for him by the malignity of others.

After four years of preparation, Daniello was at length ready, so far as he was himself concerned, to complete the casting of the Horse, but he was compelled to make a delay of several months by the fact that his stipend was not paid by Strozzi, and the metal, with other materials, were not provided in sufficient abundance. All these things were, however, finally procured, and Daniello embedded the form,