Michelangelo the Florentine

Chapter One

ROME - MARCH 1501

As he paced the small cold room, Michelangelo pondered his options. The first was to stay in Rome and try to finish the painting he had recently been commissioned for. That might give him enough money to survive until a much-preferred sculpture commission came along.

Or he could just give up his attempts to succeed as an artist in Rome, move back to Florence, and at least make his father happy. It would certainly be easier than continuing to live here. Angrily he looked around the small room that had been his home for too long. When his brother had recently come to try to talk him into returning to Florence, he hadn’t even been willing to stay with Michelangelo, complaining throughout his visit of the conditions Michelangelo now found himself in.

Michelangelo sat down hard on the side of his uncomfortable bed, pondering his time in Rome. In spite of arriving five years earlier with letters of introduction, he had still only managed to obtain two significant sculpture commissions. And now, in spite of the second one being an acknowledged masterpiece, here he was, relegated once again to painting. The very idea of staying in this cold and damp place while he finished painting this latest commission made his head hurt. He was actually quite far into the project, but he still had no enthusiasm for completing the work.

A sudden knock disturbed his musings. Opening the door, he was surprised to see his friend, Jacopo Galli, standing there.

Jacopo, what brings you here? I wasn’t expecting to see you out on this dreary winter day.

Jacopo stood awkwardly in the door, clearly trying not to look too closely at the room beyond. Michelangelo wondered which of them was more embarrassed by the living conditions he found himself in.

Without a second glance inward, Jacopo responded, I have another commission for you to consider. If you do not already have dinner plans and can stand to go for a walk in this miserable weather, I would like you to join me at my home. It will be a small meal, merely a few courses, since I am not entertaining this evening. But that will give us more time to catch up, and for me to give you the details.

Seeing no good reasons to pass up a multi-course meal, Michelangelo reluctantly agreed. At this point, he had to admit that a good meal would make even going out in the cold seem worthwhile.

Thirty minutes later, seated in the small private dining area of Jacopo’s lovely home, Michelangelo couldn’t help but study the paintings that lined each of the walls of the cozy room. Through an open doorway he could also see lavish tapestries on the walls of the adjoining room. Life as a banker was certainly different than that of a starving artist, he thought.

As the aroma of the fresh bread reached him, Michelangelo realized just how hungry he was. Even if I do not like the commission Jacopo wants to tell me about, the meal will be a sufficient reason to have come for a short visit, he thought. And Jacopo has done so much for me. I at least owe him the opportunity to explain his newest idea.

Once the servant had placed the bread on the table and exited the room, Jacopo raised his glass in a toast. To an artist of supreme talent and potential. And to the future sculptures that will emerge from the efforts of his hands.

Embarrassed, Michelangelo raised his glass, and then drank in silence. As quickly as he could accomplish it without feeling greedy, he also broke off a decent size chunk of bread, eating it with great satisfaction. He wondered if he should ask about the commission or wait for Jacopo to bring it up.

As the remaining portions of the bread were cleared away and a course of steaming stew was brought in, Jacopo finally moved towards that topic.

How long have we known each other, Michelangelo? Four or five years?

Between bites, Michelangelo answered, I arrived in Rome almost exactly five years ago, and we met soon after that. So, yes, about five years.

I was saddened to hear that you are planning to leave Rome and head back to Florence, after such a short time here.

Michelangelo was surprised that Jacopo would have heard that news or that he cared about it. Yes, my father is quite insistent that I ‘stop this madness’ as he likes to say, and return home. Since I can barely afford to feed and clothe myself and my assistant now, it is difficult to turn down his request. Once the weather has cleared some, and it is easier to travel, I plan to head back to Florence. I really see no alternative.

I understand. And while I am sad to know that such a great artist as yourself will no longer be living and working in Rome, I cannot say that I blame you. Since the death of Cardinal de Bilheres, I would imagine your situation here does not look like it will improve in the near future.

Michelangelo nodded. The French cardinal had been the patron for his masterpiece, the Pietà sculpture. It had been a commission that Jacopo had been instrumental in setting up. Sadly, the cardinal had not lived long enough after the completion of the sculpture to give Michelangelo any additional commissions. And no others worthy of his efforts had been forthcoming.

Jacopo continued, I don’t know if you would have been introduced yet to Cardinal Piccolomini.

I don’t believe so.

He has come down from Siena to supervise the execution of Cardinal de Bilheres’ will. Cardinal Piccolomini has a need for a talented sculptor, so of course I thought of you.

What type of sculpture does he have in mind?

He wants to have the statues completed for his tomb in Siena. Some time ago he had another artist begin the project, but it has sat incomplete for many years. I believe Cardinal de Bilheres’ death made Cardinal Piccolomini consider just how short life can be. I have a rough draft of the contract he is proposing if you would like to see it.

Before Michelangelo could answer, Jacopo crossed the room and picked up a stack of papers from a small table.

Glancing through them, Michelangelo could already see problems with the proposed contract. His last commission had given him much leeway in how he went about sculpting the Pietà. But it was quite clear from the proposal that Piccolomini would be a much more demanding patron. He didn’t want just any statues for his tomb in Siena, he was planning to specify who each statue would represent, and even the order that they were to be made in.

Heading back to Florence to look for work was sounding better and better. But Michelangelo hesitated, well aware of how his father would react if he came home with no money and no work lined up; even though he was the one pressuring him to do exactly that. For a moment that prospect sounded worse than staying in Rome and worrying about starving.

Flipping through the proposal, Michelangelo wondered if he could willingly bind himself to such a contract. For a project that had been started almost twenty years before, he couldn’t see why the cardinal was now in such a hurry to have it completed, regardless of his current age and concerns about dying.

Somehow Cardinal Piccolomini thought it was reasonable to require Michelangelo to sculpt fifteen statues of saints for his altar, each apparently about four feet tall. And he wanted them completed very quickly, two at a time, according to very strict specifications. All within the next three years. As Michelangelo flipped the pages in the contract, another major concern appeared. Apparently the cardinal wanted Michelangelo to work on no other commissions during whatever time it would take him to complete these statues. That was it; this was not a contract he could sign.

But before Michelangelo could express his concerns out loud, Jacopo motioned for the two men to go out to the sculpture garden. Whenever he visited, Michelangelo never doubted that his friend and banker was doing well financially. But when he walked among the statues in the garden, any doubts would have been dispelled anyway. It still gave him pleasure to see his own sculpture, the Bacchus that he had completed so soon after arriving in Rome, prominently displayed amongst the antique sculptures that Jacopo had been so carefully collecting. Trying not to think of the cold air that was breathing through his cloak, Michelangelo decided to see what Jacopo would say next.

As you know, I think very highly of your skill as an artist. I strongly believe that your work will still be enjoyed for generations, or maybe even centuries, after we have left this world. But you need to give those future generations more of your work to admire.

Again Michelangelo held his tongue, certain that this was not yet the time for him to respond.

The cardinal’s proposal may not be the kind of commission you are desiring, but you must keep working if you are going to keep eating. If you don’t eat, there will be no chance of you creating other masterpieces in the future. And I don’t mean second rate paintings that make you even more unhappy and do nothing with your skills.

Michelangelo could no longer contain his frustration with the contract he had just read. But, Jacopo, the cardinal is being unreasonable in his requirements. He expects fifteen sculptures to be done in a mere three years. Not only can I not accomplish that, but it would be unbearable for me to be restricted to just those sculptures for such a time period. You’ve seen me work. You know I can’t be tied to the same work day in and day out. It would drive me mad. Even when I had the joy of carving the Pietà I had to have the opportunity to work on other small projects when the need arose.

I understand that. I had hoped to convince the Cardinal to remove that portion of the contract. But apparently it is a clause he always includes in his contracts with the artisans he hires.

But I am no mere artisan, Jacopo, and I refuse to be treated like one, even by someone like Cardinal Piccolomini.

I am well aware of that. And as a banker, I am hardly in the position of telling people to ignore portions of contracts they sign. However, I think in this case, that is one part of the cardinal’s contract that you can safely ignore.

I don’t know. That hardly seems like a good idea.

I will explain to the cardinal that you are going back to Florence, and that he should allow you to work on the commission from there. The cardinal does not travel as far north as Florence. He is content to be here in Rome or to occasionally travel back as far as his home in Siena. As long as we can convince him that you are making progress on the sculptures for his altar, I believe we can all be happy.

Are you sure? I don’t want to risk giving the cardinal an excuse to sue me for not completing the terms of his contract.

I am not a lawyer, obviously, but yes, in this case I feel comfortable telling you that you are safe to ignore that restriction. And possibly even the time restraints he has included. I have business that will take me to Florence in a few months. I will see what I can do to encourage the cardinal to finalize the contract before then, hopefully with terms you will be happy with.

It will have to allow me to do the work in Florence, rather than Siena, that is even less negotiable. I am not willing to be that close to Florence, but not be home.

Yes, I understand. I should have no difficulty convincing the cardinal of that change to the contract. In the meantime, I suggest that you stop in Siena as you head north. It won’t add much to your travel time now, but will save you a trip there in the near future. You can view the current state of the altar and take the measurements you will need for the sculptures. I will give you a letter of introduction that should give you complete access to the altar.

I am anxious to get home, but, yes, stopping on the way to Florence would make the most sense.

Good, Jacopo said with a smile, as he reached into his purse.

Michelangelo started to protest. In spite of how bad his current situation felt, taking a handout from his wealthy friend had not been his intention.

Jacopo cut him off before he could speak. I will also ensure that the cardinal includes a reasonable advance for you in his contract. So you can consider this an advance on the advance.

Looking at the money, Michelangelo still tried to refuse it. This is too much. You know the cardinal would not give me an advance as large as this.

You will take the money, and not argue. I want you to be able to ride a decent horse back to Florence, rather than having to walk. This will be enough to cover your travel expenses and to provide for you for at least a month or so once you get home.

Michelangelo still tried to object, but Jacopo was insistent. I am the proud owner of the first sculpture here in Rome from the hand of Michelangelo the Florentine, and that is worth much more to me than this small sum. Besides, when I finalize the contract with the cardinal, I will be sure to add my commission to the amounts he is planning to pay. I am a banker, first and foremost, and my finances will not have suffered when this has all been finalized.

Michelangelo stopped arguing and gratefully accepted the money. Then, yes, if you approve of the contract when it is completed, I will sign it when you bring it to me in Florence.

The two men shook hands. As they headed back inside, Jacopo said happily, Expect me sometime in June.

Chapter Two

SIENA - APRIL 1501

Michelangelo slowed his horse as they approached the Siena city gates. He had transferred 260 ducats from his bank in Rome to one in Florence, and then he and Roberto had headed north. Even from outside the walls of Siena they could see the numerous towers that protruded into the sky from throughout the city.

They were so close to home it was painful for Michelangelo to even pause in front of the gates. Did he really want to stop here, or should they just proceed directly to Florence? During his travels thus far, he had continued to wonder whether he really wanted to take on this commission.

But he had given his word to Jacopo, and he wasn’t going