ding of his
colours; but, as he adds, that he took great precautions to prevent the
workmen informing the public as to what he was doing, we must assume that
Vasari was repeating a fable that had grown up about the marvellous work
forty years after it was executed, much as we might at this day repeat
stories of the making of the Wellington Monument by Alfred Stevens. The
carpenters and plasterers Michael Angelo employed would soon learn to
perform the more mechanical part of his work, such as laying the intonaco,
pricking the cartoons, and grinding colours, and as they could not have
inserted into the work any tradition contrary to the new manner of the
artist, would be preferred by him to second-rate artist assistants; no
doubt, too, the boy he employed in household work would be made to help.
The trouble he had in his household arrangements before the time of his
trusted servant, Urbino, may be illustrated by a letter relating to the
boy he got from Florence about this time. He never would have a woman to
work for him in any way.

[Image #21]

ATHLETE

SISTINE CHAPEL, ROME
(_By permission of the Fratelli Alinari, Florence_)

"_To_ LODOVICO DI BUONARROTA SIMONI, _in Florence_.

"ROME (_January_ 1510).

"MOST REVERED FATHER,--I answered you about the business of
Bernardino, as I wished first to settle the affairs of my
household as you know, and so I now reply to you. I sent first for
him because I was promised that within a few days he would be
ready and that I might get to work. Afterwards I saw that it would
be a long business; in the meantime I am seeking another suitable
one to get out of it. I won't have any work done until I am ready,
but tell him how the matter stands. About the boy who came, that
rascal of a muleteer did me out of a ducat. He took an oath that
he had agreed for two broad golden ducats, and all the lads who
come here with the muleteers do not give more than ten carlinos. I
was more angry than if I had lost twenty-five ducats, because I
see it is the fault of the father, who wanted to send him on
muleback in state. Oh! I had never such good fortune! not I.
Although the father declared, and the son likewise, that he would
do anything, attend to the mule, and sleep on the ground