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made to set it up on the altar, it proved to be so large that it
occupied too much space, and there was no room left for the
ministrations of the priest; and although this statue was passing
good, and even one of Baccio's best, nevertheless the people--the
ordinary citizens no less than the priests--could never have their
fill of speaking ill of it and picking it to pieces. Recognizing that
to uncover unfinished works injures the reputation of a craftsman in
the eyes of all those who are not of the profession, or have no
knowledge of art, or have not seen the models, Baccio resolved, in
order to accompany the statue of Christ and to complete the altar, to
make the statue of God the Father, for which a very beautiful block of
marble had come from Carrara. And he had already carried it well
forward, making it half nude after the manner of a Jove, when, since
it did not please the Duke and appeared to Baccio himself to have
certain defects, he left it as it was, and even so it is still to be
found in the Office of Works.

Baccio cared nothing for the words of others, but gave his attention
to making himself rich and buying property. He bought a most beautiful
farm, called Lo Spinello, on the heights of Fiesole, and another with
a very beautiful house called Il Cantone, in the plain above San
Salvi, on the River Affrico, and a great house in the Via de' Ginori,
which he was enabled to acquire by the moneys and favours of the Duke.
Having thus secured his own position, Baccio thenceforward cared
little to work or to exert himself; and although the tomb of Signor
Giovanni was unfinished, the audience-chamber of the Great Hall only
begun, and the choir and altar behindhand, he paid little attention
to the words of others or to the censure that was laid upon him on
that account. However, having erected the altar and set into position
the marble base upon which was to stand the statue of God the Father,
he made a model for this and finally began it, and, employing
stone-cutters, proceeded to carry it slowly forward.

There came from France in those days Benvenuto Cellini, who had served
King Francis in the matter of goldsmith's work, of which he was the
most famous master of his day; and he had also executed some castings
in bronze for that King. Benvenuto was introduced to Duke Cosimo, who,
desiring to adorn the city, showed also to him much favour and
affection, and commissioned him to make a statue of bronze about five
b