assistants executed all the
other very rich decorations in stucco that are to be seen in that Hall,
studying at the same time over the cartoons for all that he had proposed
to do in that place in the way of painting. Which done, he made a
beginning with one of the stories, but he did not paint more than about
two braccia of it, and two of the Kings in the tabernacles of stucco
over the doors. For, although he was pressed by Cardinal Farnese and by
the Pope, not reflecting that death very often spoils the designs of
men, he carried on the work so slowly that when in the year 1549 the
death of the Pope took place, there was nothing done save what has been
described; and then, the Conclave having to be held in the Hall, which
was full of scaffolding and woodwork, it became necessary to throw
everything to the ground and uncover the work. The whole being thus seen
by everyone, the works in stucco were vastly extolled, as they deserved,
but not so the two Kings in painting, for it was thought that they were
not equal in excellence to the work at the Trinita, and that with all
those fine allowances and advantages he had gone rather backward than
forward.

Julius III having been created Pontiff in the year 1550, Daniello put
himself forward by means of friends and interests, hoping to obtain the
same salary and to continue the work of that Hall, but the Pope, not
having any inclination in his favour, always put him off; indeed,
sending for Giorgio Vasari, who had been his servant from the time when
he was Archbishop of Siponto, he made use of him in all matters
concerned with design. Nevertheless, his Holiness having determined to
make a fountain at the head of the corridor of the Belvedere, and not
liking a design by Michelagnolo (in which was Moses striking the rock
and causing water to flow from it) because it was a thing that could not
be carried out without a great expenditure of time, since Michelagnolo
wished to make it of marble; his Holiness, I say, preferring the advice
of Giorgio, which was that the Cleopatra, a divine figure made by the
Greeks, should be set up in that place, the charge of that work was
given by means of Buonarroti to Daniello, with orders that he should
make in the above-named place a grotto in stucco-work, within which that
Cleopatra was to be placed. Daniello, then, having set his hand to that
work, pursued it so slowly, although he was much pressed, that he
finished only the stucco-work and th