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Book FirstPart LVI
Part LVI
I continued to work for the Pope, executing now one trifle and now
another, when he commissioned me to design a chalice of exceeding richness. So
I made both drawing and model for the piece. The latter was constructed of
wood and wax. Instead of the usual top, I fashioned three figures of a fair
size in the round; they represented Faith, Hope, and Charity. Corresponding to
these, at the base of the cup, were three circular histories in bas-relief.
One was the Nativity of Christ, the second the Resurrection, and the third S.
Peter crucified head downwards; for thus I had received commission. While I
had this work in hand, the Pope was often pleased to look at it; wherefore,
observing that his Holiness had never thought again of giving me anything, and
knowing that a post in the Piombo was vacant, I asked for this one evening.
The good Pope, quite oblivious of his extravagances at the termination of the
last piece, said to me: "That post in the Piombo is worth more than 800 crowns
a year, so that if I gave it you, you would spend your time in scratching your
paunch, ^1 and your magnificent handicraft would be lost, and I should bear
the blame." I replied at once as thus: "Cats of a good breed mouse better when
they are fat than starving; and likewise honest men who possess some talent,
exercise it to far nobler purport when they have the wherewithal to live
abundantly; wherefore princes who provide such folk with competences, let your
Holiness take notice, are watering the roots of genius; for genius and talent,
at their birth, come into this world lean and scabby; and your Holiness should
also know that I never asked for the place with the hope of getting it. Only
too happy I to have that miserable post of mace-bearer. On the other I built
but castles in the air. Your Holiness will do well, since you do not care to
give it me, to bestow it on a man of talent who deserves it, and not upon some
fat ignoramus who will spend his time scratching his paunch, if I may quote
your holiness` own words. Follow the example of Pope Giulio`s illustrious
memory, who conferred an office of the same kind upon Bramante, that most
admirable architect."
[Footnote 1: Grattare il corpo, which I have translated scratch your paunch,
is equivalent to twirl your thumbs.]
Immediately on finishing this speech, I made my bow, and went off in a
fury. Then Bastiano Veneziano the painter approached, and said: "Most blessed
Father, may your Holiness be willing to grant it to one who works assiduously
in the exercise of some talent; and as your Holiness knows that I am diligent
in my art, I beg that I may be thought worthy of it." The Pope replied: "That
devil Benvenuto will not brook rebuke. I was inclined to give it him, but it
is not right to be so haughty with a Pope. Therefore I do not well know what I
am to do." The Bishop of Vasona then came up, and put in a word for Bastiano,
saying: "Most blessed Father, Benvenuto is but young; and a sword becomes him
better than a friar`s frock. Let your Holiness give the place to this
ingenious person Bastiano. Some time or other you will be able to bestow on
Benvenuto a good thing, perhaps more suitable to him than this would be." Then
the Pope turning to Messer Bartolommeo Valori, told him: "When next you meet
Benvenuto, let him know from me that it was he who got that office in the
Piombo for Bastiano the painter, and add that he may reckon on obtaining the
next considerable place that falls; meanwhile let him look to his behaviour,
and finish my commissions." ^2
[Footnote 2: The office of the Piombo in Rome was a bureau in which leaden
seals were appended to Bulls and instruments of state. It remained for a long
time in the hands of the Cistercians; but it used also to be conferred on
laymen, among whom were Bremante and Sebastiano del Piombo. When the latter
obtained it, he neglected his art and gave himself up to "scratching his
paunch," as Cellini predicted.]
The following evening, two hours after sundown, I met Messer Bartolommeo
Valori ^3 at the corner of the Mint; he was preceded by two torches, and was
going in haste to the Pope, who had sent for him. On my taking off my hat, he
stopped and called me, and reported in the most friendly manner all the
messages the Pope had sent me. I replied that I should complete my work with
greater diligence and application than any I had yet attempted, but without
the least hope of having any reward whatever from the Pope. Messer Bartolommeo
reproved me, saying that this was not the way in which one ought to reply to
the advances of a Pope. I answered that I should be mad to reply otherwise -
mad if I based my hopes on such promises, being certain to get nothing. So I
departed, and went off to my business.
[Footnote 3: Bartolommeo or Baccio Valori, a devoted adherent of the Medici,
played an important part in Florentine history. He was Clement`s commissary to
the Prince of Orange during the siege. Afterwards, feeling himself ill repaid
for his services, he joined Filippo Strozzi in his opposition to the Medicean
rule, and was beheaded in 1537, together with his son and a nephew.]
Messer Bartolommeo must have reported my audacious speeches to the Pope,
and more perhaps than I had really said; for his Holiness waited above two
months before he sent to me, and during that while nothing would have induced
me to go uncalled for to the palace. Yet he was dying with impatience to see
the chalice, and commissioned Messer Ruberto Pucci to give heed to what I was
about. ^4 That right worthy fellow came daily to visit me, and always gave me
some kindly word, which I returned. The time was drawing nigh now for the Pope
to travel toward Bologna; ^5 so at last, perceiving that I did not mean to
come to him, he made Messer Ruberto bid me bring my work, that he might see
how I was getting on. Accordingly, I took it; and having shown, as the piece
itself proved, that the most important part was finished, I begged him to
advance me five hundred crowns, partly on account, and partly because I wanted
gold to complete the chalice. The Pope said: "Go on, go on at work till it is
finished." I answered, as I took my leave, that I would finish it if he paid
me the money. And so I went away.
[Footnote 4: Roberto Pucci was another of the devoted Medicean partisans who
remained true to his colours. He sat among the forty-eight senators of
Alessandro, and was made a Cardinal by Paul III in 1534.]
[Footnote 5: On November 18, 1532, Clement went to meet Charles V at Bologna,
where, in 1529, he had already given him the Imperial crown.]
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