Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/349

Rh judgment in all things, Messer Tommaso induced him to execute numerous drawings for his friends, among others an Annunciation in a new manner for the Cardinal di Cesis; this was afterwards painted by Marcello of Mantua, and placed in the marble Chapel constructed by that Cardinal in the Church of the Pace at Borne. Another Annunciation, also painted by Marcello, is in the Church of San Giovanni Laterano, and the design for this is in the possession or Duke Cosimo; given by Lionardo Buonarroti, after the death of his uncle, to his Excellency, who keeps it like a jewel, with a figure of Christ in the Garden, and other cartoons and sketches from the hand of Michelagnolo. The Duke also possesses a statue five braccia high, representing the Goddess of Victory, with a captive lying beneath her; he has besides a group of four Captives, merely rough hewn, but which may well serve to teach all men how statues may be extracted from marble without injury to the stone.

The method of proceeding is to take a figure of wax, or other firm material, and lay it in a vessel of water, which is of its nature level at the surface; the figure being then gradually raised, first displays the more salient parts, while the less elevated still lie hidden, until, as the form rises, the whole comes by degrees into view. In the same manner are figures to be extracted by the chisel from the marble, the highest parts being first brought forth, till by degrees all the lowest parts appear; and this was the method pursued by Michelagnolo, in these figures of the Captives, which his Excellency would fain see adopted as models by his academicians.

Michelagnolo loved the society of artists, and held much intercourse with many among them, as, for example, with Jacopo Sansovino, II Bosso, Pontormo, Daniello da Volterra, and the Aretine Giorgio Vasari, to whom he showed infinite kindness. It was by him indeed that Vasari was led to the study of architecture, Michelagnolo intending some day to make use of his services, and gladly conferring with him on matters connected with art. Those who affirm that he was