Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/317

Rh compel Miclielagnolo to be seated near him, however humbly he excused himself, the Pontiff always doing every possible honour to his genius.

Pope Julius likewise made him prepare the model for a palace, which His Holiness wished to build near San Rocco, proposing to make the Mausoleum of Augustus serve as a part of the masonry; nor would it be possible to find the design of a fa9ade more varied, original, rich or beautiful than is this, seeing that Miclielagnolo, as may be remarked in all his works, would never restrict himself to any laws, whether ancient or modern, as regarded architecture, he being one who had ever the power to invent things no less beautiful than varied and original. This model is now in the possession of the Duke Cosimo de’ Medici, to whom, when he went to Rome, it was given by Pope Pius IV., and who has deposited it among his most valued possessions. This Pontiff regarded Michelagnolo so highly that he constantly defended him against all the Cardinals and others who sought to do him injury. He also required every other artist, however able or distinguished, to wait on Michelagnolo at his own house: nay, his consideration for our artist was so great that, fearing to demand too much, he refrained from asking many a work, which the master, notwithstanding his age, might very well have performed.

In the time of Pope Paul III. Michelagnolo had received a commission from that Pontiff to repair the foundations of the Bridge of Santa Maria, which had been weakened by time and the perpetual flow of the waters.

The piers had been carefully repaired, or rather refounded, ^by means of coffer-dams, and a great portion of the work had been concluded, at a great expense for timber and travertine. Under the pontificate of Julius III. there was question in the Council of bringing this bridge to an end: certain among those present proposing that the architect, Nanni di Baccio Bigio, should finish it by contract, they alleging that it would thus be done in a short time and at small cost. The Clerks of the Chamber pretended, moreover, that this would be a relief to Michelagnolo, who was now old, and cared so little for the matter that the work, at the rate it then proceeded, could never be brought to an end. The Pope was no lover of disputes, and not thinking of the consequences that might ensue, he gave the desired authorization,