w in the Uffizi Gallery, and then the Virgin Mary sitting near
the place of the cross and holding the body of the dead Christ. The
art-term for this subject is "La Pieta." From the time that Michael Angelo
made this beautiful work he was the first sculptor of the world, though he
was but twenty-four years old. The Pieta was placed in St. Peter's Church,
where it still remains. The next year he returned to Florence. He was
occupied with both painting and sculpture, and was soon employed on his
"David," one of his greatest works. This statue weighed eighteen thousand
pounds, and its removal from the studio in which it was made to the place
where it was to stand, next the gate of the Palazzo Vecchio, was a
difficult undertaking. It was at last put in place on May 18, 1504; there
it remained until a few years ago, when, on account of its crumbling from
the effect of the weather, it was removed to the Academy of Fine Arts by
means of a railroad built for the purpose.

About this time a rivalry sprang up between Michael Angelo and Leonardo da
Vinci. They were very unlike in their characters and mode of life. Michael
Angelo was bitter, ironical, and liked to be alone; Leonardo loved to be
gay and to see the world; Michael Angelo lived so that when he was old he
said, "Rich as I am, I have always lived like a poor man;" Leonardo
enjoyed luxury, and kept a fine house, with horses and servants. They had
entered into a competition which was likely to result in serious trouble,
when Pope Julius II. summoned Michael Angelo to Rome. The Pope gave him an
order to build him a splendid tomb; but the enemies of the sculptor made
trouble for him, and one morning he was refused admission to the Pope's
palace. He then left Rome, sending this letter to the Pope: "Most Holy
Father, I was this morning driven from the palace by the order of your
Holiness. If you require me in future you can seek me elsewhere than at
Rome."

Then he went to Florence, and the Pope sent for him again and again; but
he did not go. Meantime he finished his design, and received the
commission that he and Leonardo had striven for, which was to decorate the
hall of the Grand Council with pictures. At last, in 1506, the Pope was in
Bologna, and again sent for Michael Angelo. He went, and was forgiven for
his offence, and received an order for a colossal statue of the Pope in
bronze. When this was finished in 1508, and put before the Church of St.
Petronio, Michael Angel