Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/249

Rh Bologna, returned to Florence, where he executed a San Giovanni in marble for Lorenzo di Pier Francesco de’ Medici; after which he commenced a Sleeping Cupid, also in marble and the size of life. This being finished was shown as a fine work, by means of Baldassare del Milanese to Pier-Francesco, who having declared it beautiful, Baldassare then said to Michelagnolo, “I am certain that, if you bury this Statue for a time, and then send it to Pome so treated, that it may look old, you may get much more for it than could be obtained hereand this Michelagnolo is said to have done, as indeed he very easily could, that or more, but others declare that it was Milanese who, having taken this Cupid to Borne, there buried it, and afterwards sold it as an antique to the Cardinal San Giorgio for two hundred crowns. Others again affirm that the one sold to San Giorgio was made by Michelagnolo for Milanese who wrote to beg that Pier-Francesco would give Michelagnolo thirty crowns, declaring that sum to be all he had obtained for it, thus deceiving both him and Michelagnolo.

Cardinal San Giorgio had, meanwhile, discovered that the Cupid had been made in Florence, and having ascertained the whole truth, he compelled Milanese to return the money and take back the Statue, which, having fallen into the hands of the Duke Valentino, was presented by him to the Marchioness of Mantua, who took it to that city, where it is still to be seen. San Giorgio, meanwhile, incurred no small ridicule and even censure in the matter, he not having been able to appreciate the merit of the work; for this consisted in its absolute perfection, wherein, if a modern work be equal to the ancient, wherefore not value it as highly? for is it not a mere vanity to think more of the name than the fact? But men who regard the appearance more than the reality, are to be found in all times.

The reputation of Michelagnolo increased greatly from this circumstance, and he was invited to Borne, where he was engaged by the Cardinal San Giorgio, with whom he remained nearly a