things which I had seen.  I replied by stating my opinion, and certainly I can say with sincerity that there are many fine things in the collection.  Then he asked me whether I had the courage to make some beautiful work of art.  I answered that I should not be able to achieve anything so great, but that he should see what I could do.  We have bought a piece of marble for a life-size statue, and on Monday I shall begin to work.”

After describing his reception, Michelangelo proceeds to relate the efforts he was making to regain his Sleeping Cupid from Messer Baldassare:  “Afterwards, I gave your letter to Baldassare, and asked him for the child, saying I was ready to refund his money.  He answered very roughly, swearing he would rather break it in a hundred pieces; he had bought the child, and it was his property; he possessed writings which proved that he had satisfied the person who sent it to him, and was under no apprehension that he should have to give it up.  Then he complained bitterly of you, saying that you had spoken ill of him.  Certain of our Florentines sought to accommodate matters, but failed in their attempt.  Now I look to coming to terms through the Cardinal; for this is the advice of Baldassare Balducci.  What ensues I will report to you.”  It is clear that Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco, being convinced of the broker’s sharp practice, was trying to recover the Sleeping Cupid (the child) at the price originally paid for it, either for himself or for Buonarroti.  The Cardinal is mentioned as being the most likely person to secure the desired result.

Whether Condivi is right in saying that S. Giorgio neglected to employ Michelangelo may be doubted.  We have seen from this letter to Lorenzo that the Cardinal bought a piece of marble and ordered a life-size statue.  But nothing more is heard about the work.  Professor Milanesi, however, has pointed out that when the sculptor was thinking of leaving Rome in 1497 he wrote to his father on the 1st of July as follows:  “Most revered and beloved father, do not be surprised that I am unable to return, for I have not yet settled my affairs with the Cardinal, and I do not wish to leave until I am properly paid for my labour; and with these great patrons one must go about quietly, since they cannot be compelled.  I hope, however, at any rate during the course of next week, to have completed the transaction.”

Michelangelo remained at Rome for more than two years after the date of the letter just quoted.  We may conjecture, then, that he settled his accounts with the Cardinal, whatever these were, and we know that he obtained other orders.  In a second letter to his father, August 19, 1497, he writes thus:  “Piero de’ Medici gave me a commission for a statue, and I bought the marble.  But I did not begin to work upon it, because he failed to perform what he promised.  Wherefore I am acting on my own account, and am making a statue for my own pleasure.  I bought the marble for five ducats, and it turned out bad.  So I threw my money away.  Now I have bought another at the same price, and the work I am doing is for my amusement.  You will therefore understand that I too have large expenses and many troubles.”