The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini Part 31

I wrote four lines that very day, in which I thanked his Excellency for expected favours, and gave these to Messer Sforza, who placed them in the Duke?s hands. The latter took them, and then handed them to Messer Sforza, remarking: ?See that you put these lines each day where I can see them; for if Benvenuto comes back and finds I have not despatched his business, I think that he will murder me.? Thus laughing, his Excellency asked to be reminded. Messer Sforza reported these precise words to me on the same evening, laughing too and expressing wonder at the great favour shown me by the Duke. He pleasantly added: ?Go, Benvenuto, and come again quickly, for indeed I am jealous of you.?

Note 1. The Ermo is more correctly Eremo, and Vernia is Alvernia.

XCIV

IN G.o.d?s name then I left Florence, continually singing psalms and prayers in His honour upon all that journey. I enjoyed it extremely; for the season was fine, in early summer, and the country through which I travelled, and which I had never seen before, struck me as marvellously beautiful. Now I had taken with me to serve as guide a young workman in my employ, who came from Bagno, and was called Cesare. Thanks to him, then, I received the kindest hospitality from his father and all his family, among whom was an old man of more than seventy, extremely pleasant in his conversation. He was Cesare?s uncle, a surgeon by profession, and a dabbler in alchemy. This excellent person made me observe that the Bagni contained mines of gold and silver, and showed me many interesting objects in the neighbourhood; so that I enjoyed myself as much as I have ever done.

One day, when we had become intimate and he could trust me, he spoke as follows: ?I must not omit to tell you a thought of mine, to which his Excellency might with advantage pay attention. It is, that not far from Camaldoli there lies a mountain pa.s.s so ill defended, that Piero Strozzi could not only cross it without risk, but might also seize on Poppi [1]

unmolested.? Not satisfied with this description, he also took a sheet of paper from his pouch, upon which the good old man had drawn the whole country, so that the seriousness of the danger could be manifest upon inspection of the map. I took the design and left Bagno at once, travelling homeward as fast as I could by Prato Magno and San Francesco della Vernia. On reaching Florence, I only stopped to draw off my riding-boots, and hurried to the palace. Just opposite the Badia I met the Duke, who was coming by the palace of the Podesta. When he saw me he gave me a very gracious reception, and showing some surprise, exclaimed: ?Why have you come back so quickly; I did not expect you for eight days at least.? I answered: ?The service of your most ill.u.s.trious Excellency brings me back, else I should very willingly have stayed some few days longer on my journey through that lovely country.? ?Well, and what good news have you?? said he. I answered: ?Prince, I must talk to you about things of the greatest importance which I have to disclose.? So I followed him to the palace, and when we were there, he took me privately into a chamber where we stayed a while alone together. I then unfolded the whole matter and showed him the little map, with which he seemed to be much gratified. When I told his Excellency that one ought to take measures at once, he reflected for a little while and then said: ?I may inform you that we have agreed with the Duke of Urbino that he should guard the pa.s.s; but do not speak about it.? Then he dismissed me with great demonstrations of good-will, and I went home.

Note 1. A village in the Castenino. Piero Strozzi was at this time in Valdichiana.

XCV

NEXT day I presented myself, and, after a few words of conversation, the Duke addressed me cheerfully; ?To-morrow, without fail, I mean to despatch your business; set your mind at rest, then.? I, who felt sure that he meant what he said, waited with great impatience for the morrow.

When the longed-for day arrived, I betook me to the palace; and as it always happens that evil tidings travel faster than good news, Messer Giacopo Guidi, [1] secretary to his Excellency, called me with his wry mouth and haughty voice; drawing himself up as stiff as a poker, he began to speak to this effect: ?The Duke says he wants you to tell him how much you ask for your Perseus.? I remained dumbfounded and astonished; yet I quickly replied that it was not my custom to put prices on my work, and that this was not what his Excellency had promised me two days ago. The man raised his voice, and ordered me expressly in the Duke?s name, under the penalty of his severe displeasure, to say how much I wanted. Now I had hoped not only to gain some handsome reward, trusting to the mighty signs of kindness shown me by the Duke, but I had still more expected to secure the entire good graces of his Excellency, seeing I never asked for anything, but only for his favour. Accordingly, this wholly unexpected way of dealing with me put me in a fury, and I was especially enraged by the manner which that venomous toad a.s.sumed in discharging his commission. I exclaimed that if the Duke gave me ten thousand crowns I should not be paid enough, and that if I had ever thought things would come to this haggling, I should not have settled in his service. Thereupon the surly fellow began to abuse me, and I gave it him back again.

Upon the following day, when I paid my respects to the Duke, he beckoned to me. I approached, and he exclaimed in anger: ?Cities and great palaces are built with ten thousands of ducats.? I rejoined: ?Your Excellency can find mult.i.tudes of men who are able to build you cities and palaces, but you will not, perhaps, find one man in the world who could make a second Perseus.? Then I took my leave without saying or doing anything farther. A few days afterwards the d.u.c.h.ess sent for me, and advised me to put my difference with the Duke into her hands, since she thought she could conduct the business to my satisfaction. On hearing these kindly words I replied that I had never asked any other recompense for my labours than the good graces of the Duke, and that his most ill.u.s.trious Excellency had a.s.sured me of this; it was not needful that I should place in their Excellencies? hands what I had always frankly left to them from the first days when I undertook their service.

I farther added that if his most ill.u.s.trious Excellency gave me but a 'crazia,' [2] which is worth five farthings, for my work, I should consider myself contented, provided only that his Excellency did not deprive me of his favour. At these words the d.u.c.h.ess smiled a little and said: ?Benvenuto, you would do well to act as I advise you.? Then she turned her back and left me. I thought it was my best policy to speak with the humility I have above described; yet it turned out that I had done the worst for myself, because, albeit she had harboured some angry feelings toward me, she had in her a certain way of dealing which was generous.

Note 1. It appears from a letter written by Guidi to Bandinelli that he hated Cellini, whom he called 'pessimo mostro di natura.' Guidi was made Bishop of Penna in 1561, and attended the Council of Trent.

Note 2. A small Tuscan coin.

XCVI

ABOUT that time I was very intimate with Girolamo degli Albizzi, [1]

commissary of the Duke?s militia. One day this friend said to me: ?O Benvenuto, it would not be a bad thing to put your little difference of opinion with the Duke to rights; and I a.s.sure you that if you repose confidence in me, I feel myself the man to settle matters. I know what I am saying. The Duke is getting really angry, and you will come badly out of the affair. Let this suffice; I am not at liberty to say all I know.?

Now, subsequently to that conversation with the d.u.c.h.ess, I had been told by some one, possibly a rogue, that he had heard how the Duke said upon some occasion which offered itself: ?For less than two farthings I will throw Perseus to the dogs, and so our differences will be ended.? This, then, made me anxious, and induced me to entrust Girolamo degli Albizzi with the negotiations, telling him anything would satisfy me provided I retained the good graces of the Duke. That honest fellow was excellent in all his dealings with soldiers, especially with the militia, who are for the most part rustics; but he had no taste for statuary, and therefore could not understand its conditions. Consequently, when he spoke to the Duke, he began thus: ?Prince, Benvenuto has placed himself in my hands, and has begged me to recommend him to your Excellency.? The Duke replied: ?I too am willing to refer myself to you, and shall be satisfied with your decision.? Thereupon Girolamo composed a letter, with much skill and greatly to my honour, fixing the sum which the Duke would have to pay me at 3500 golden crowns in gold; and this should not be taken as my proper recompense for such a masterpiece, but only as a kind of gratuity; enough to say that I was satisfied; with many other phrases of like tenor, all of which implied the price which I have mentioned.

The Duke signed this agreement as gladly as I took it sadly. When the d.u.c.h.ess heard, she said: ?It would have been better for that poor man if he had placed himself in my hands; I could have got him five thousand crowns in gold.? One day, when I went to the palace, she repeated these same words to me in the presence of Messer Alamanno Salviati, [2] and laughed at me a little, saying that I deserved my bad luck.

The Duke gave orders that I should be paid a hundred golden crowns in gold per month, until the sum was discharged; and thus it ran for some months. Afterwards, Messer Antonio de? n.o.bili, who had to transact the business, began to give me fifty, and sometimes later on he gave me twenty-five, and sometimes nothing. Accordingly, when I saw that the settlement was being thus deferred, I spoke good-humouredly to Messer Antonio, and begged him to explain why he did not complete my payments.

He answered in a like tone of politeness; yet it struck me that he exposed his own mind too much. Let the reader judge. He began by saying that the sole reason why he could not go forward regularly with these payments, was the scarcity of money at the palace; but he promised, when cash came in, to discharge arrears. Then he added: ?Oh heavens! if I did not pay you, I should be an utter rogue.? I was somewhat surprised to hear him speak in that way; yet I resolved to hope that he would pay me when he had the power to do so. But when I observed that things went quite the contrary way, and saw that I was being pillaged, I lost temper with the man, and recalled to his memory hotly and in anger what he had declared he would be if he did not pay me. However, he died; and five hundred crowns are still owing to me at the present date, which is nigh upon the end of 1566. [3] There was also a balance due upon my salary which I thought would be forgotten, since three years had elapsed without payment. But it so happened that the Duke fell ill of a serious malady, remaining forty-eight hours without pa.s.sing water. Finding that the remedies of his physicians availed nothing, it is probable that he betook himself to G.o.d, and therefore decreed the discharge of all debts to his servants. I too was paid on this occasion, yet I never obtained what still stood out upon my Perseus.

Note 1. A warm partisan of the Medici. He was a cousin of Maria Salviati, Cosimo?s mother. It was rumoured that he caused the historian Francesco Guicciardini?s death by poison. We find him G.o.dfather to one of Cellini?s children.

Note 2. This Salviati and the De? n.o.bili mentioned afterwards occupied a distinguished place in Florentine annals as partisans of the Medici.

Note 3. Cellini began to write his 'Memoirs' in 1558. Eight years had therefore now elapsed.

XCVII

I HAD almost determined to say nothing more about that unlucky Perseus; but a most remarkable incident, which I do not like to omit, obliges me to do so; wherefore I must now turn back a bit, to gather up the thread of my narration. I thought I was acting for the best when I told the d.u.c.h.ess that I could not compromise affairs which were no longer in my hands, seeing I had informed the Duke that I should gladly accept whatever he chose to give me. I said this in the hope of gaining favour; and with this manifestation of submissiveness I employed every likely means of pacifying his resentment; for I ought to add that a few days before he came to terms with Albizzi, the Duke had shown he was excessively displeased with me. The reason was as follows: I complained of some abominable acts of injustice done to me by Messer Alfonso Quistelli, Messer Jacopo Polverino of the Exchequer, and more than all by Ser Giovanbattista Brandini of Volterra. When, therefore, I set forth my cause with some vehemence, the Duke flew into the greatest rage conceivable. Being thus in anger, he exclaimed: ?This is just the same as with your Perseus, when you asked those ten thousand crowns. You let yourself be blinded by mere cupidity. Therefore I shall have the statue valued, and shall give you what the experts think it worth.? To these words I replied with too much daring and a touch of indignation, which is always out of place in dealing with great princes: ?How is it possible that my work should be valued at its proper worth when there is not a man in Florence capable of performing it?? That increased his irritation; he uttered many furious phrases, and among them said: ?There is in Florence at this day a man well able to make such a statue, and who is therefore highly capable of judging it.? He meant Bandinello, Cavaliere of S. Jacopo. [1] Then I rejoined: ?My lord, your most ill.u.s.trious Excellency gave me the means of producing an important and very difficult masterpiece in the midst of this the n.o.blest school of the world; and my work has been received with warmer praises than any other heretofore exposed before the gaze of our incomparable masters. My chief pride is the commendation of those able men who both understand and practise the arts of design--as in particular Bronzino, the painter; this man set himself to work, and composed four sonnets couched in the choicest style, and full of honour to myself. Perhaps it was his example which moved the whole city to such a tumult of enthusiasm. I freely admit that if sculpture were his business instead of painting, then Bronzino might have been equal a to task like mine. Michel Agnolo Buonarroti, again, whom I am proud to call my master; he, I admit, could have achieved the same success when he was young, but not with less fatigue and trouble than I endured. But now that he is far advanced in years, he would most certainly be found unequal to the strain. Therefore I think I am justified in saying that no man known upon this earth could have produced my Perseus. For the rest, my work has received the greatest reward I could have wished for in this world; chiefly and especially because your most ill.u.s.trious Excellency not only expressed yourself satisfied, but praised it far more highly than any one beside.

What greater and more honourable prize could be desired by me? I affirm most emphatically that your Excellency could not pay me with more glorious coin, nor add from any treasury a wealth surpa.s.sing this.

Therefore I hold myself overpaid already, and return thanks to your most ill.u.s.trious Excellency with all my heart.? The Duke made answer: ?Probably you think I have not the money to pay you. For my part, I promise you that I shall pay you more for the statue than it is worth.?

Then I retorted: ?I did not picture to my fancy any better recompense from your Excellency; yet I account myself amply remunerated by that first reward which the school of Florence gave me. With this to console me, I shall take my departure on the instant, without returning to the house you gave me, and shall never seek to set my foot in this town again.? We were just at S. Felicita, and his Excellency was proceeding to the palace. When he heard these choleric words, he turned upon me in stern anger and exclaimed: ?You shall not go; take heed you do not go!?

Half terrified, I then followed him to the palace.

On arriving there, his Excellency sent for the Archbishop of Pisa, named De, Bartolini, and Messer Pandolfo della Stufa, [2] requesting them to order Baccio Bandinelli, in his name, to examine well my Perseus and value it, since he wished to pay its exact price. These excellent men went forthwith and performed their emba.s.sy. In reply Bandinello said that he had examined the statue minutely, and knew well enough what it was worth; but having been on bad terms otherwise with me for some time past, he did not care to be entangled anyhow in my affairs. Then they began to put a gentle pressure on him, saying: ?The Duke ordered us to tell you, under pain of his displeasure, that you are to value the statue, and you may have two or three days to consider your estimate.

When you have done so, tell us at what price it ought to be paid.? He answered that his judgment was already formed, that he could not disobey the Duke, and that my work was rich and beautiful and excellent in execution; therefore he thought sixteen thousand crowns or more would not be an excessive price for it. Those good and courteous gentlemen reported this to the Duke, who was mightily enraged; they also told the same to me. I replied that nothing in the world would induce me to take praise from Bandinello, ?seeing that this bad man speaks ill of everybody.? My words were carried to the Duke; and that was the reason why the d.u.c.h.ess wanted me to place the matter in her hands. All that I have written is the pure truth. I will only add that I ought to have trusted to her intervention, for then I should have been quickly paid, and should have received so much more into the bargain.

Note 1. Bandinelli was a Knight of S. James of Compostella.

Note 2. Onofrio de? Bartolini was made Archbishop of Pisa in 1518, at the age of about seventeen. He was a devoted adherent of the Medici. He was shut up with Clement in S. Angelo, and sent as hostage to the Imperial army. Pandolfo della Stufa had been cup-bearer to Caterina de?

Medici while Dauphiness.

XCVIII

THE DUKE sent me word by Messer Lelio Torello, [1] his Master of the Rolls, [2] that he wanted me to execute some bas-reliefs in bronze for the choir of S. Maria del Fiore. Now the choir was by Bandinello, and I did not choose to enrich his bad work with my labours. He had not indeed designed it, for he understood nothing whatever about architecture; the design was given by Giuliano, the son of that Baccio d?Agnolo, the wood-carver, who spoiled the cupola. [3] Suffice it to say that it shows no talent. For both reasons I was determined not to undertake the task, although I told the Duke politely that I would do whatever his most ill.u.s.trious Excellency ordered. Accordingly, he put the matter into the hands of the Board of Works for S. Maria del Fiore, [4] telling them to come to an agreement with me; he would continue my allowance of two hundred crowns a year, while they were to supply the rest out of their funds.

In due course I came before the Board, and they told me what the Duke had arranged. Feeling that I could explain my views more frankly to these gentlemen, I began by demonstrating that so many histories in bronze would cost a vast amount of money, which would be totally thrown away, giving all my reasons, which they fully appreciated. In the first place, I said that the construction of the choir was altogether incorrect, without proportion, art, convenience, grace, or good design.

In the next place, the bas-reliefs would have to stand too low, beneath the proper line of vision; they would become a place for dogs to p.i.s.s at, and be always full of ordure. Consequently, I declined positively to execute them. However, since I did not wish to throw away the best years of my life, and was eager to serve his most ill.u.s.trious Excellency, whom I had the sincerest desire to gratify and obey, I made the following proposal. Let the Duke, if he wants to employ my talents, give me the middle door of the cathedral to perform in bronze. This would be well seen, and would confer far more glory on his most ill.u.s.trious Excellency. I would bind myself by contract to receive no remuneration unless I produced something better than the finest of the Baptistery doors. [5] But if I completed it according to my promise, then I was willing to have it valued, and to be paid one thousand crowns less than the estimate made by experts.

The members of the Board were well pleased with this suggestion, and went at once to report the matter to the Duke, among them being Piero Salviati. They expected him to be extremely gratified with their communication, but it turned out just the contrary. He replied that I was always wanting to do the exact opposite of what he bade me; and so Piero left him without coming to any conclusion. On hearing this, I went off to the Duke at once, who displayed some irritation when he saw me.

However, I begged him to condescend to hear me, and he replied that he was willing. I then began from the beginning, and used such convincing arguments that he saw at last how the matter really stood, since I made it evident that he would only be throwing a large sum of money away.

Then I softened his temper by suggesting that if his most ill.u.s.trious Excellency did not care to have the door begun, two pulpits had anyhow to be made for the choir, and that these would both of them be considerable works, which would confer glory on his reign; for my part, I was ready to execute a great number of bronze bas-reliefs with appropriate decorations. In this way I brought him round, and he gave me orders to construct the models.

Accordingly I set at work on several models, and bestowed immense pains on them. Among these there was one with eight panels, carried out with far more science than the rest, and which seemed to me more fitted for the purpose. Having taken them several times to the place, his Excellency sent word by Messer Cesare, the keeper of his wardrobe, that I should leave them there. After the Duke had inspected them, I perceived that he had selected the least beautiful. One day he sent for me, and during our conversation about the models, I gave many reasons why the octagonal pulpit would be far more convenient for its destined uses, and would produce a much finer effect. He answered that he wished me to make it square, because he liked that form better; and thus he went on conversing for some time very pleasantly. I meanwhile lost no opportunity of saying everything I could in the interests of art. Now whether the Duke knew that I had spoken the truth, or whether he wanted to have his own way, a long time pa.s.sed before I heard anything more about it.

Note 1. A native of Fano. Cosimo?s Auditore, 1539; first Secretary or Grand Chancellor, 1546. He was a great jurist.

Note 2. 'Suo auditore.'

Note 3. It was Baccio d?Agnolo who altered Brunelleschi?s plan for the cupola. Buonarroti used to say that he made it look like a cage for crickets. His work remained unfinished.

Note 4. 'Operai di S. Maria del Fiore.'

Note 5. He means Ghiberti?s second door, in all probability.

XCIX

ABOUT this time the great block of marble arrived which was intended for the Neptune. It had been brought up the Arno, and then by the Grieve [1]

to the road at Poggio a Caiano, in order to be carried to Florence by that level way; and there I went to see it. Now I knew very well that the d.u.c.h.ess by her special influence had managed to have it given to Bandinello. No envy prompted me to dispute his claims, but rather pity for that poor unfortunate piece of marble. Observe, by the way, that everything, whatever it may be, which is subject to an evil destiny, although one tries to save it from some manifest evil, falls at once into far worse plight; as happened to this marble when it came into the hands of Bartolommeo Ammanato, [2] of whom I shall speak the truth in its proper place. After inspecting this most splendid block, I measured it in every direction, and on returning to Florence, made several little models suited to its proportions. Then I went to Poggio a Caiano, where the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess were staying, with their son the Prince. I found them all at table, the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess dining in a private apartment; so I entered into conversation with the Prince. We had been speaking for a long while, when the Duke, who was in a room adjacent, heard my voice, and condescended very graciously to send for me. When I presented myself before their Excellencies, the d.u.c.h.ess addressed me in a very pleasant tone; and having thus opened the conversation, I gradually introduced the subject of that n.o.ble block of marble I had seen. I then proceeded to remark that their ancestors had brought the magnificent school of Florence to such a pitch of excellence only by stimulating compet.i.tion among artists in their several branches. It was thus that the wonderful cupola and the lovely doors of San Giovanni had been produced, together with those mult.i.tudes of handsome edifices and statues which made a crown of artistic glory for their city above anything the world had seen since the days of the ancients. Upon this the d.u.c.h.ess, with some anger, observed that she very well knew what I meant, and bade me never mention that block of marble in her presence, since she did not like it. I replied: ?So, then, you do not like me to act as the attorney of your Excellencies, and to do my utmost to ensure your being better served?

Reflect upon it, my lady; if your most ill.u.s.trious Excellencies think fit to open the model for a Neptune to compet.i.tion, although you are resolved to give it to Bandinello, this will urge Bandinello for his own credit to display greater art and science than if he knew he had no rivals. In this way, my princes, you will be far better served, and will not discourage our school of artists; you will be able to perceive which of us is eager to excel in the grand style of our n.o.ble calling, and will show yourselves princes who enjoy and understand the fine arts.?

The d.u.c.h.ess, in a great rage, told me that I tired her patience out; she wanted the marble for Bandinello, adding: ?Ask the Duke; for his Excellency also means Bandinello to have it.? When the d.u.c.h.ess had spoken, the Duke, who had kept silence up to this time, said: ?Twenty years ago I had that fine block quarried especially for Bandinello, and so I mean that Bandinello shall have it to do what he likes with it.? I turned to the Duke and spoke as follows: ?My lord, I entreat your most ill.u.s.trious Excellency to lend a patient hearing while I speak four words in your service.? He told me to say all I wanted, and that he would listen. Then I began: ?You will remember, my lord, that the marble which Bandinello used for his Hercules and Cacus was quarried for our incomparable Michel Agnolo Buonarroti. He had made the model for a Samson with four figures, which would have been the finest masterpiece in the whole world; but your Bandinello got out of it only two figures, both ill-executed and bungled in the worst manner; wherefore our school still exclaims against the great wrong which was done to that magnificent block. I believe that more than a thousand sonnets were put up in abuse of that detestable performance; and I know that your most ill.u.s.trious Excellency remembers the fact very well. Therefore, my powerful prince, seeing how the men to whose care that work was entrusted, in their want of taste and wisdom, took Michel Agnolo?s marble away from him, and gave it to Bandinello, who spoilt it in the way the whole world knows, oh! will you suffer this far more splendid block, although it belongs to Bandinello, to remain in the hands of that man who cannot help mangling it, instead of giving it to some artist of talent capable of doing it full justice? Arrange, my lord, that every one who likes shall make a model; have them all exhibited to the school; you then will hear what the school thinks; your own good judgment will enable you to select the best; in this way, finally, you will not throw away your money, nor discourage a band of artists the like of whom is not to be found at present in the world, and who form the glory of your most ill.u.s.trious Excellency.?

The Duke listened with the utmost graciousness; then he rose from table, and turning to me, said: ?Go, my Benvenuto, make a model, and earn that fine marble for yourself; for what you say is the truth, and I acknowledge it.? The d.u.c.h.ess tossed her head defiantly, and muttered I know not what angry sentences.

I made them a respectful bow and returned to Florence, burning with eagerness to set hands upon my model.

Note 1. Instead of the Grieve, which is not a navigable stream, it appears that Cellini ought to have written the Ombrone.

Note 2. This sculptor was born in 1511, and died in 1592. He worked under Bandinelli and Sansovino.

C

WHEN the Duke came to Florence, he sought me at my house without giving me previous notice. I showed him two little models of different design.