e to the descent that leads from Orsanmichele to the Mercato
Nuovo. The design was praised by the craftsmen, but not so much the
colouring, because it was somewhat crude and painted in no beautiful
manner. But Baccio sent it as a present to Pope Clement, who had it
placed in his guardaroba, where it may still be found.

As far back as the time of Leo X there had been quarried at Carrara,
together with the marbles for the facade of S. Lorenzo in Florence,
another block of marble nine braccia and a half high and five braccia
wide at the foot. With this block of marble Michelagnolo Buonarroti
had thought of making a giant in the person of Hercules slaying Cacus,
intending to place it in the Piazza beside the colossal figure of
David formerly made by him, since both the one and the other, David
and Hercules, were emblems of the Palace. He had made several designs
and various models for it, and had sought to gain the favour of Pope
Leo and of Cardinal Giulio de' Medici, saying that the David had many
defects caused by the sculptor Maestro Andrea, who had first blocked
it out and spoiled it. But by reason of the death of Leo the facade of
S. Lorenzo was for a time abandoned, and also this block of marble.
Now afterwards, Pope Clement having conceived a desire to avail
himself of Michelagnolo for the tombs of the heroes of the house of
Medici, which he wished to have constructed in the Sacristy of S.
Lorenzo, it became once more necessary to quarry marbles; and the head
of these works, keeping the accounts of the expenses, was Domenico
Buoninsegni. This man tried to tempt Michelagnolo to make a secret
partnership with him in the matter of the stone-work for the facade of
S. Lorenzo; but Michelagnolo refused, not consenting that his genius
should be employed in defrauding the Pope, and Domenico conceived such
hatred against him that he went about ever afterwards opposing his
undertakings, in order to annoy and humiliate him, but this he did
covertly. He thus contrived to have the facade discontinued and the
sacristy pushed forward, which two works, he said, were enough to keep
Michelagnolo occupied for many years. And as for the marble for the
making of the giant, he urged the Pope that it should be given to
Baccio, who at that time had nothing to do; saying that through the
emulation of two men so eminent his Holiness would be served better
and with more diligence and promptitude, rivalry stimulating both the
one and the other