V

The whole of 1516 and 1517 elapsed before Leo’s plans regarding S. Lorenzo took a definite shape.  Yet we cannot help imagining that when Michelangelo cancelled his first contract with the executors of Julius, and adopted a reduced plan for the monument, he was acting under Papal pressure.  This was done at Rome in July, and much against the will of both parties.  Still it does not appear that any one contemplated the abandonment of the scheme; for Buonarroti bound himself to perform his new contract within the space of nine years, and to engage “in no work of great importance which should interfere with its fulfilment.”  He spent a large part of the year 1516 at Carrara, quarrying marbles, and even hired the house of a certain Francesco Pelliccia in that town.  On the 1st of November he signed an agreement with the same Pelliccia involving the purchase of a vast amount of marble, whereby the said Pelliccia undertook to bring down four statues of 4-1/2 cubits each and fifteen of 4-1/4 cubits from the quarries where they were being rough-hewn.  It was the custom to block out columns, statues, &c., on the spot where the stone had been excavated, in order, probably, to save weight when hauling.  Thus the blocks arrived at the sea-shore with rudely adumbrated outlines of the shape they were destined to assume under the artist’s chisel.  It has generally been assumed that the nineteen figures in question were intended for the tomb.  What makes this not quite certain, however, is that the contract of July specifies a greatly reduced quantity and scale of statues.  Therefore they may have been intended for the facade.  Anyhow, the contract above-mentioned with Francesco Pelliccia was cancelled on the 7th of April following, for reasons which will presently appear.

During the month of November 1516 Michelangelo received notice from the Pope that he was wanted in Rome.  About the same time news reached him from Florence of his father’s severe illness.  On the 23rd he wrote as follows to Buonarroto:  “I gathered from your last that Lodovico was on the point of dying, and how the doctor finally pronounced that if nothing new occurred he might be considered out of danger.  Since it is so, I shall not prepare to come to Florence, for it would be very inconvenient.  Still, if there is danger, I should desire to see him, come what might, before he died, if even I had to die together with him.  I have good hope, however, that he will get well, and so I do not come.  And if he should have a relapse—­from which may God preserve him and us—­see that he lacks nothing for his spiritual welfare and the sacraments of the Church, and find out from him if he wishes us to do anything for his soul.  Also, for the necessaries of the body, take care that he lacks nothing; for I have laboured only and solely for him, to help him in his needs before he dies.  So bid your wife look with loving-kindness to his household affairs.  I will make everything good to her and all of you, if it be necessary.  Do not have the least hesitation, even if you have to expend all that we possess.”