Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/280

268 necessity left unfinished, Leo not contenting himself with the counsels or even the designs of Michelagnolo, but requiring him to act as superintendent of the works. Yet the master did not yield without such resistance as was possible to him, alleging his engagements with the Cardinals Santi Quattro and Aginense, to whom he was already pledged in respect of the Tomb; but His Holiness replied that he was not to think of them, he (the Holy Father) having provided for that matter, and in effect he did procure the release of Michelagnolo by those prelates, promising them that he should continue his preparations for the Sepulchre, by working at the figures destined for it in Florence, as he had previously done. All this was, nevertheless, much to the dissatisfaction of the Cardinals, as well as Michelagnolo, who left Rome with tears in his eyes.

Much talk, nay innumerable discussions, arose on the subject of the works to be executed in Florence also, seeing that an undertaking like that of the Fagade of San Lorenzo ought certainly to have been divided among many persons; in regard to the architecture more especially, several artists repaired to Rome, applying to the Pope for the direction thereof. Baccio d’Agnolo, Antonio da San Gallo, Andrea and Jacopo Sansovino, with the graceful Raffaello da Urbino, having all made designs for that building: the latter did indeed afterwards visit Florence for a similar purpose.

But Michelagnolo determined to prepare the model himself, and not to accept any guide, or permit any superior in the matter of the architecture: this refusal of all aid was nevertheless the occasion of such delays that neither by himself nor by others was the work put into operation, and the masters above-named returned, hopeless of a satisfactory conclusion, to their accustomed avocations. Michelagnolo then repaired to Carrara, but first he was empowered to receive a thousand crowns from Jacopo Salviati, and presented himself for that purpose accordingly. FTow it chanced that Jacopo was at that moment shut up in his room, engaged on matters of importance with certain of the citizens, but Michelagnolo would not wait for an audience,