Lionardo was at this time thirty, and was the sole hope of the family, since Michelangelo and his two surviving brothers had no expectation of offspring.  His uncle kept reminding the young man that, if he did not marry and get children, the whole property of the Buonarroti would go to the Hospital or to S. Martino.  This made his marriage imperative; and Michelangelo’s letters between March 5, 1547, and May 16, 1553, when the desired event took place, are full of the subject.  He gives his nephew excellent advice as to the choice of a wife.  She ought to be ten years younger than himself, of noble birth, but not of a very rich or powerful family; Lionardo must not expect her to be too handsome, since he is no miracle of manly beauty; the great thing is to obtain a good, useful, and obedient helpmate, who will not try to get the upper hand in the house, and who will be grateful for an honourable settlement in life.  The following passages may be selected, as specimens of Michelangelo’s advice:  “You ought not to look for a dower, but only to consider whether the girl is well brought up, healthy, of good character and noble blood.  You are not yourself of such parts and person as to be worthy of the first beauty of Florence.”  “You have need of a wife who would stay with you, and whom you could command, and who would not want to live in grand style or to gad about every day to marriages and banquets.  Where a court is, it is easy to become a woman of loose life; especially for one who has no relatives.”

Numerous young ladies were introduced by friends or matrimonial agents.  Six years, however, elapsed before the suitable person presented herself in the shape of Cassandra, daughter of Donato Ridolfi.  Meanwhile, in 1548, Michelangelo lost the elder of his surviving brothers.  Giovan Simone died upon the 9th of January; and though he had given but little satisfaction in his lifetime, his death was felt acutely by the venerable artist.  “I received news in your last of Giovan Simone’s death.  It has caused me the greatest sorrow; for though I am old, I had yet hoped to see him before he died, and before I died.  God has willed it so.  Patience!  I should be glad to hear circumstantially what kind of end he made, and whether he confessed and communicated with all the sacraments of the Church.  If he did so, and I am informed of it, I shall suffer less.”  A few days after the date of this letter, Michelangelo writes again, blaming Lionardo pretty severely for negligence in giving particulars of his uncle’s death and affairs.  Later on, it seems that he was satisfied regarding Giovan Simone’s manner of departure from this world.  A grudge remained against Lionardo because he had omitted to inform him about the property.  “I heard the details from other persons before you sent them, which angered me exceedingly.”

V