MEMOIRS

BENVENUTO CELLINI,
A FLORENTINE ARTIST;
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
CONTAINING A
VARIETY OF INFORMATION RESPECTING THE ARTS,
AND THE
HISTORY OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
A NEW EDITION.
CORRECTED AND ENLARGED FROM THE LAST MILAN EDITION.
WITH
THE NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS OF G. P. CARPANI,
NOW FIRST TRANSLATED
BY
THOMAS ROSCOE, ESQ.

" Cellini was one of the most extiaordinary men in an extraordinary age ; his life,
written by himself, is more amusing than any novel I know." — Horace Walpole.

IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HENRY COLBURN AND CO.
MDCCCXXII.

LONDON :
PRINTED BY S. AND R. BENTLEY, DORSET-STREET.

CONTENTS
OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.
The Cardinal of Ferrara returns to Rome from the Court of
France — At a banquet where he is entertained by the Pope,
he prevails on his Holiness to set the Author at liberty —
Verses called the Capitolo, which Cellini wrote in his confine
ment  1
CHAPTER II.
The Author being set at liberty pays a visit to Ascanio, at Tag-
liacozzo — He returns to Rome, and finishes a fine cup for the
Cardinal of Ferrara — Account of his Venus and Cupid, his
Amphitrite and Tritons, with other performances — He enters
into the service of the French King Francis I. and sets out
with the Cardinal of Ferrara for Paris — Affray with the post
master of Camollia — He arrives at Florence, where he stays
four days with his sister  12
CHAPTER III.
The Author arrives at Ferrara, where he is caressed by the sove
reign of that duchy, and employed to make his statue in mar
ble — The climate disagrees with him, and he is taken ill, but
recovers byeating wild peacocks — Misunderstanding between
him and the duke's servants, attended with several untoward
circumstances — After many difficulties and delays, he resumes
his journey, and arrives safe at Lyons, from whence he pro
ceeds to Fontainbleau, where the Court at that time resided. 29
CHAPTER IV.
The Author meets with a most gracious reception from the
French King, and attends the King in his tour to Dauphine
— Grand retinue of that prince — The Cardinal proposes to

IV CONTENTS.
Cellini to work for an inconsiderable salary— He is highly
disgusted at this, and goes off abruptly upon a pilgrimage to
Jerusalem— He is pursued and brought back to the King,
who settles a handsome salary on him, and assigns him a
house to work in at Paris— He sets out for that capital, but
meets with great opposition in taking possession of the house,
which, however, he at last completely overcomes  43
CHAPTER V.
The King employs our Author to make large silver statues of
Jupiter, Vulcan, and Mars — He presents his Majesty with a
fine bason and cup of silver, together with a salt-cellar of the
same metal, of admirable workmanship — The Kings gene
rosity defeated by the avarice ofthe Cardinal of Ferrara — His
Majesty, accompanied by Madame d'Estampes and the whole
Court, pay the Author a visit — The King orders a consider
able sum of money to be given him — As he is going home, he
is attacked by four armed ruffians, whom he repulses — Dis
pute between him and the French artists, whom he makes
sensible of their error  59
• CHAPTER VI.
The Author obtains a grant of naturalization, motu propria, from
the King, and is made lord of the house he resides at, called
Petit Nesle — The King pays him another visit, accompanied
by Madame d'Estampes, and orders him to commence superb
ornaments for the fountain at Fontainbleau — In obedience to
the King's commands he makes two beautiful models of the
ornaments for the fountain, and shews them to his Majesty —
Description of those ornaments — Remarkable conversation
between him and the King upon this occasion — Madame
d'Estampes is offended with the Author for not taking notice
of her in any of his designs — To recover her favour he waits
upon her, intending to make her a present of a fine vase of sil
ver, but is refused admittance — He presents it to the Cardinal
of Lorraine, who behaves most generously to him — He involves
himself in a scrape by turning out of his house a favourite
servant of Madame d'Estampes, who had taken up his quar
ters there for some time — Madame d'Estampes endeavours to
alienate tlie King from him, but the Dauphin interposes in his
fivour  76
CHAPTER VII.
Madame d'Estampes encourages Primaticcio, otherwise called
Bologna, the painter, to torment and rival the Author — He is
entangled in a troublesome law-suit by a persom whom he had

CONTENTS. V
turned out of his apartments at Petit Nesle — Description of
the French courts of justice — The Author, finding himself
very much persecuted and distressed by the chicanery and
delays of the law, puts an end to the suit, by the sword,
which greatly intimidates his adversaries — His domestic
troubles  95
CHAPTER VIII.
Open rupture between Cellini and Primaticcio the painter, the
latter having, at the instigation of Madame d'Estampes,
undertaken to execute some of the designs of the former —
Primaticcio is intimidated by the Author's menaces, and
gives up the point — Cellini waits upon the King with a salt
cellar of the most exquisite workmanship — Birth of his
daughter Constantia — The King again visits the Author, and
finding the silver statues in great forwardness, orders him a
considerable sum of money, of which he is deprived, as
before, by the Cardinal of Ferrara — His Majesty discovering
how the Author had been wronged, orders his minister to give
him the first abbey that becomes vacant  105
CHAPTER IX.
Madame d'Estampes, with a view of farther persecuting the
Author, obtains leave from the King for a perfumer to take
possession of a tennis court within his inclosure — The per
fumer is opposed by Cellini, notwithstanding the King's grant,
and obliged at length to quit the premises — The Author
triumphs on meeting with the King's approbation — He sets
out for Fontainbleau with the silver statue of Jupiter — Prima
ticcio the painter, upon his return from Rome, endeavours to
traduce the Author — Madame d'Estampes' partial behaviour
to the Bolognese painter — Cellini's spirited resentment — The
King's gracious and generous behaviour to the Author —
Adventure of Ascanio  123
CHAPTER X.
A war breaking. out with the Emperor Charles V. the Author is
employed to fortify Paris — Madame d'Estampes, by constant
artifices, prejudices the King against Cellini — His Majesty's
expostulation with the latter — Madame. d'Estampes continues
her ill offices — Cellini has another conference with the King,
in which he declares his desire of returning to Italy — He
obtains .his Majesty's permission, by means of the- Cardinal of
Ferrara  133

VI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
The Author leaves his house and effects in the care of two
servants, and sets out for Italy — Ascanio is sent after him to
demand the two vases belonging to the King — Terrible storm
in the neighbourhood of Lyons — The Author meets count
Galeotto of Mirandola, in Italy, who apprises him of the
treachery of the Cardinal of Ferrara and his two servants —
At Piacenza he meets with duke Pier Luigi — He arrives safe
at Florence, where he finds his sister with her six young
daughters  149
CHAPTER XII.
Cellini is graciously received by Cosmo de' Medici, grand duke
of Tuscany — after a long conference he engages in the duke's
service — The duke assigns Cellini a house to work in —
Delays of the duke's servants to fit it up for the Author's use
— Ridiculous scene between him and the duke's steward. 162
CHAPTER XIII.
The French King is prejudiced against the Author by the trea
cherous insinuations of Cellini's own servants — This prevents
his return to France — He undertakes a large statue of PerT
seus and Andromeda, but meets with great difficulty in car
rying on the work, through the jealousy and perfidious
behaviour of the sculptor Bandinello — He receives letters
from France, by which he is censured for returning to Italy
before he had settled his accounts with the King — He answers
by giving a clear account in writing — Story of a fraud com
mitted by the grand duke's servants in the sale of a diamond
— A conspiracy is formed against Cellini  174
CHAPTER XIV.
The Author, disgusted at the behaviour of the duke's servants,
takes a trip to Venice, where he is greatly caressed by Titian,
Sansovino, and other ingenious artists — After a short stay he
returns to Florence and resumes his business — He goes on
but slowly with his Perseus for want of proper assistance, and
makes his complaint to the duke — The duchess employs him
in jewellery, and wishes to engross his whole time ; but he
expresses a desire of signalizing himself, and with that view
chooses to finish his Perseus  187

CONTENTS. Vll

CHAPTER XV.

Bandinello throws more difficulties in the Author's way. — In a fit
of despair he goes to Fiesole, to see a natural son of his, and
meets with Bandinello at his return — At first he resolves to
kill him, but upon seeing his cowardly behaviour alters his
mind, and recovering his former tranquillity goes on with his
work — Conversation between him and the duke, concerning an
antique Greek statue of Ganymede — Account of some marble
statues of Cellini's, viz. Apollo, Hyacinthus, and Narcissus —
He meets with an accident by which he had nearly lost one of
his eyes — Manner of his recovery  203
CHAPTER XVI.
The duke, having some doubt of Cellini's skill and abilities in
casting figures of bronze, enters into a conversation with him
upon the subject — Cellini gives a sufficient proof of his
extraordinary skill, by casting a beautiful bronze statue of
Perseus  221
CHAPTER XVII.
Cellini receives a letter from Michel Angelo concerning a bronze
head of Bindo Altoviti. — He sets out for Rome. — Having paid
his respects to the Pope, he waits upon Michel Angelo, and en
deavours to persuade him to enter into the duke's service. —
Cellini returns to Florence, and meets with a cold reception
from the duke, occasioned by ill offices done him by the
steward. — Matters are accommodated between him and his
excellency, but he soon falls into a hke disgrace with the
duchess, by disclosing a secret concerning the purchase of a
pearl necklace. — Bernardone succeeds in prevailing upon the
duke to buy it for the duchess, contrary to Cellini's opinion. —
The duchess becomes Cellini's implacable enemy  238
CHAPTER XVIII.
The duke makes war against Sienna — Cellini is employed in re
pairing the fortifications of Florence — Quarrel between Cel
lini and a Lombard captain — Discovery of some curious an
tiques in the country of Arezzo — The mutilated figures are
repaired by Cellini — Extraordinary scene between him and
the duchess — He refuses to gratify her in placing some bronze
figures in her apartment, which widens the breach between
them — Quarrel between him and Bernardone the goldsmith —
He finishes his famous statue of Perseus and Medusa,
which is exposed to public view in the great square, and meets
with universal approbation — Cellini is invited over to Sicily

Vlll CONTENTS.
by the viceroy, but refuses to quit the duke's service He
undertakes a pilgrimage of a few days to Vallombrosa and
Camaldoli  253
CHAPTER XIX.
The Author in his pilgrimage meets with an old alchymist of
Bagno, who makes a discovery to him of some mines of gold
and silver, and gives him a map, which shews a dangerous
pass into the duke's country — He returns with it to the duke,
who makes him great acknowledgments for his zeal — Differ
ence between him and the duke about the value of his Perseus
and Medusa — It is referred to the arbitration of Girolamo
degli Albizi — Fresh dispute between Cellini and the duke,
in which Bandinello and the duchess interpose — The Au
thor is employed to erect two pulpits in the choir of S.
Maria del Fiore, and adorn them with basso rilievo figures in
bronze  275
CHAPTER XX.
Contest between Cellini and Bandinello about a statue of
Neptune. — The duchess favours Bandinello, but Cellini pre
vails on the duke to consent that whoever should produce the
best design should have the marble — The preference is given
to Cellini's design, and Bandinello dies through vexation. —
The duchess causes the marble to be given to Bartolommeo
Ammanato. — Account of a remarkable transaction between
Cellini and one Sbietta. — He narrowly escapes being poisoned
by Sbietta's wife, who is encouraged in that design by Fi
lippo, a profligate priest. — Cellini, during his illness, which
lasted six months, is supplanted at court by Bartolommeo
Ammanato  295
CHAPTER XXI.
Cellini upon his recovery is particularly favoured bv Don
Francesco the duke's son — Injustice done him by the ma-
, gistrates in a law-suit between him and Sbietta — He appeals
to the duke, but meets with no redress — Farther injustice
done him in his dispute with Sbietta, by the treachery of
Raffaello Schieggia — The duke and duchess pay him a visit
and he presents them with a marble crucifix— They are both
reconciled to him, and promise him every sort of assistance
and encouragement — A proposal is made him by Catherine
de' Medici, queen dowager of France, to settle in that king
dom and erect a magnificent mausoleum to her husband
Henry II. — This the duke prevents — The cardinal of Medici
dies, which occasions much grief at the court of Florence 
Cellini in great anguish of mind sets out for Pisa  325
SUPPLEMENT  345

MEMOIRS

BENVENUTO CELLINI.

CHAPTER I.
The Cardinal of Ferrara returns to Rome from the Court of
France — At a banquet where he is entertained by the Pope,
he prevails on his Holiness to set the Author at liberty —
Verses called the Capitolo, which Cellini wrote in his con
finement.
After I had led this melancholy life a few days
longer, the Cardinal of Ferrara made his appear
ance at Rome. Upon going to pay his respects
to his Holiness, he was detained to- supper ; and
the Pope, being a person of great taste and ge
nius, chose to converse with him concerning all
that he had seen curious and worthy of observa
tion in France. The Cardinal in the heat of con
versation discovered several things which he
VOL. II. B

2 MEMOIRS OF
would otherwise have concealed ; and as he
knew how to conform himself to the French
King's taste, and was equally possessed of the art
of pleasing his Holiness, the latter took a much
greater liking to him than he was aware of him
self, and seemed to be in high spirits, as well on
account of this engaging conversation, as of the
debauch he committed on the occasion, which he
repeated every week, and vomited after it. When
the Cardinal saw the Pope in a good humour,
and likely to grant favours, he applied in my be
half, in the name of the King his master, in the
most urgent manner imaginable, and expressed
himself in such terms as demonstrated that the
French monarch was very solicitous to obtain his
request. The holy father thereupon perceiving
that his time of vomiting was at hand, and that
the great quantity of wine he had poured down
his throat was upon the point of operating, said
to the Cardinal, laughing, " Take Benvenuto home
with you directly, without a moment's delay."'
Thus having given proper orders in the affair, he
rose from table, and the Cardinal sent for me that
very moment, before the affair could come to the
knowledge of signor Pier Luigi, who would never
have consented to my release.
The Pope's order was brought to the prison by
two of the Cardinal of Ferrara's gentlemen, in the
dead of night : they took me out of the Castle,
and conducted me to the Cardinal, who gave me
the kindest reception imaginable. I was well

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 3
lodged at his house, and enjoyed all the happi
ness which recovered liberty can bestow. * Sig
nor Antonio, brother to the governor, and who
was then possessed of his place, insisted upon my
paying all my expenses, as well as the fees and
gratifications required by the officers of. justice,
and others of that stamp : in short, he was re
solved to act in every respect contrary to the will
of the deceased governor. This affair cost me
many a score of crowns. The Cardinal bid me be
of good courage, and take care of myself, if I
valued my life ; adding, that if he had not that
evening got me out of prison, I should, in all pro
bability, have ended my days in confinement; as
he was informed that the Pope had already re
pented his having set me at liberty. I must
therefore look back a little, to recollect some
circumstances that occur in the verses which I
* Caro wrote word of Cellini's liberation to his friend Varchi,
the 5th December, 1539, in the following terms: " You will,
perhaps, have heard the news respecting Benvenuto, who is out
of prison, and once more in the house of the Cardinal of Fer
rara. In a little time, I doubt not, his affairs will do well, if he
would let them, with that unmanageable head of his, which
would make one doubt whether there be any thing fixed and
certain in the world. We are continually holding up his own
interest before his eyes, but he will not see it : the more we say,
the less he is inclined to hear." Luigi Alamanni also wrote to
Varchi, in an inedited letter given by Mazzuchelli : — " I have
got Benvenuto safe and sound in my room. He owes his life to
Cardinal Ferrara and his friends."
B 2

4 MEMOIRS OF
composed when a prisoner. During the time that
I passed in the apartment of the Cardinal, and
afterwards in the Pope's privy garden, amongst
other friends that visited me, there came a cashier
of signor Bindo Altoviti, whose name was Ber
nardo Galluzzi, whom I had entrusted with the
value of several hundred crowns. This young man
came to the privy garden with an intention to
settle accounts, and restore to me all that I had
deposited with him. I told him, that I could not
put my property into the hands of a dearer friend ,
nor into any place where it could be more secure.
My friend, upon this, seemed to decline keeping
it, and I, by a sort of violence, obliged him to
continue his trust. When I was come out of the
Castle this last time, I understood that poor Ber
nardo Galluzzi was a bankrupt, and that I had
consequently lost all my money.
During my confinement I had, moreover, a ter
rible dream, in which a person appeared to write
certain words of great importance upon my fore
head with a reed, at the same time strictly charg
ing me not to divulge what he had been doing ;
and when I awoke in the morning I perceived
that my forehead was actually marked. In the
verses composed during my confinement there
are several events of a similar nature. I likewise
received a circumstantial account, without know
ing to whom I owed my intelligence, of all that
afterwards happened to signor Pier Luigi ; and it
was so clear and express in every article, that I

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 5
have often thought I received it from a heavenly
angel. Another circumstance I must not omit, which is
one of the most extraordinary things that ever
happened to any man, and I mention it hi justice
to God and the wondrous ways of his providence
towards me. From the very moment that I be
held the phenomenon, there appeared (strange to
relate !) a resplendent light over my head, which
has displayed itself conspicuously to all that I
have thought proper to shew'it to, but those were
very few. This shining light is to be seen in the
morning over my shadow till two o'clock in the
afternoon, and it appears to the greatest, advan
tage when the grass is moist with dew : it is like
wise visible in the evening at sunset. This phe
nomenon I took notice of when I was at Paris,
because the air is exceedingly clear in that
climate, so that I could distinguish it there much
plainer than in Italy, where mists are much more
frequent ; but I can still see it even here, and shew
it to others, though not to the same advantage as
in France. I shall now lay before the reader the
verses which I composed during my confinement
and in praise of the prison. I shall then relate all
the good and evil which befel me upon a variety
of different occasions, as likewise the various
events of the subsequent course of my life.
These verses I inscribe to Luca Martini.

MEMOIRS OF

VERSES CALLED THE CAP1TOLO,
WRITTEN DURING THE AUTHORS IMPRISONMENT
IN THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO.
Hb who would sound the depths of power divine,
Should for a time in gloomy dungeon dwell
Where grief corrodes and harrows up the soul.
Domestic care should prey upon his mind,
To sorrow and to crosses long inured,
By various troubles and by tempests toss'd.
Would you improve in virtue's rigid lore
By sad imprisonment ? Your lot should be
Unjust confinement, long in grief your chain
You comfortless should drag, and no relief
No kind assistance from a friend receive.
You should by gaolers of your property
Be cruelly deprived, and roughly used,
Nor ever hope for liberty again.
Frantic with rage you should your prison break,
Urged by some fell oppressor's cruel wrongs,
And then in deeper dungeon be confin'd.
Dear Luca, listen with attentive ear,
Whilst I my dire calamities relate :
What sufferings could be worse ? To break a leg,
In moist, damp, noisome cell to be confin'd.
Without a cloak to shelter me from cold !
Think what I suffer'd in these cells immured
Lonely, from human converse quite debarr'd,
My daily pittance brought me by a slave,
A surly monster silent and severe.
Think to what ills ambition does expose,
What dangers threaten an aspiring soul.
Think what it was to have no place to sit
Or rest my head on, but a corner foul •
At every hour of tedious night and day

BENVENUTO CELLINI.
By cares unceasing to be kept awake.
O think how dismal that to this sad cell
None should approach, but mutes in silence wrapp'd,
Who sternly frown'd, nor e'er an answer deign'd.
How sad it was that in such horrid cave
The poet's fancy wont to soar, to rove
In sprightly sallies, now should be confined
To pine the solitary hours away !
How sad to be restrain'd from pen and ink,
Nor e'en allow'd, the poet's sad relief,
To scrawl with charcoal on my prison walls !
But hold, my sorrows make me deviate far
From the first purpose of my moral song.
I meant a prison's praises to proclaim,
To shew what useful lessons may be learn'd
In deep distress and sharp affliction's school :
Few inmates of such dreary solitudes
Were ever equal to this arduous task.
In those receptacles of guilt and vice
The man of virtue seldom is immured,
Except when fallen a victim to the hate
Of ministers and servile tools of power ;
Except through envy, anger, or despite.
Confined in dungeon deep, in gloomy cell
The prisoner oft invokes God's awful name,
Yet feels within the torments of the damn'd.
Howe'er traduced and blacken'd by the tongue
Of calumny, to reputation lost,
Pass two unhappy years in prison pent,
You'll then come out reform'd ; with manners pure,
The world will love you, will forget the past,
Imprisonment will all your faults atone.
Within the darksome round of prison walls —
Relentless walls where comfort never dwells !
The mental powers, the faculties decline,
The body like its covering decays ;
Yet here, too, grossest wits by constant woe

MEMOIRS OF
Are sharpcn'd, sublimated and refined,
Genius midst sufferings imps her wings and soars,
And from these gloomy cells, in prospect bright,
Though distant, heaven's blest regions arc descried.
Here how invention's aid our wants supplies
And greatest difficulties can surmount.
Staring aghast I stalk about the room,
My hair with horror bristling on my head,
Like quills upon the fretful porcupine ;
Next from a pannel of the door I tear
A splinter with my teeth, expedient strange !
Cruel necessity such means suggests.
A brick reduced to powder then I mix
With water, kneading both into a mash.
Poetic genius fill'd my labouring breast,
And all my soul was by the muse inspired.
But to resume the subject of these lays :
He who desires to know and to enjoy
The good that Heaven bestows upon our kind,
Should first be practis'd in the train of ills,
Which in his wisdom God inflicts on man.
A prison prompts and teaches every art :
If medical assistance you require,
Through ev'ry open'd pore it makes you sweat.
With some strange virtue are its walls endued
To make you learned, eloquent and brave,
And by enchantment wonderful its power
Your raptured fancy ever can delight
With florid, gay ideas, fairy scenes.
Though wisdom is in prison dearly bought,
Happy the man who there is taught her lore ;
The genius is not by confinement cranip'd,
But spreads untutor'd its advent'rous wintjs
To treat of gravest subjects, war or peace:
His efforts always with success are crown'd.
What steadiness the mind in durante learns !
No more elate by fortune's wanton smiles,

BENVENUTO CELLINI.
Nor sunk dejected and depress'd with woe.
Perhaps you'll tell me all these years are lost,
That wisdom never was in prison learn'd.
I speak but what I feel : experience shews,
That e'en a dungeon may be wisdom's school.
But would to heaven our laws were so contrived
That guilty men no longer had the power
To 'scape that prison, which their crimes deserve.
The man of low degree by fortune doom'd
To drudge for a subsistence, there should gain
Experience, there should learn to act his part.
He thus would be less liable to err,
Less prone to stray from reason's equal path ;
The world would then no longer be a stage
Of dire confusion, and a chaos wild.
Whilst in a gloomy dungeon's dark recess
Monks, priests, and men of rank I saw confined,
But fewest still of those who for their deeds
Seem'd most deserving of that rigid lot.
What poignant grief pervades a prisoner's breast,
When some sad partner of his dire distress
Loose from his chain first sees the prison door
Op'd to admit him to bless'd liberty !
What cruel anguish wrings his tortured breast !
He wishes that he never had been born.
Though long corroding grief upon my heart
Relentless prey'd, though oft my labouring brain
Has almost grown distracted with my woes,
Midst all my ills some comfort strange I found,
Unknown to those who slumber life away
Upon the down of ease, whose happy lids
Were never sullied with a gushing tear.
What raptures would transport my ravish'd breast
Should some one say to me with friendly voice,
Hence, Benvenuto, go, depart in peace !
How often has a deadly pale o'erspread
My livid cheeks, whilst in a dungeon deep

10 MEMOIRS OF
I pined and sigh'd my hapless hours away !
Deprived of liberty I now no more
To France or Florence can at will repair !
Though were I even in France, I might not there
Meet tender treatment to relieve my woe.
I say not this against that noble soil,
Whose lilies have illumined heaven and earth ;
But amidst roses thistles often grow.
I saw an emblem from the heavens descend
Swiftly amongst the vain deluded crowd,
And a new light was kindled on the rock :
He who on earth and in high heaven explains
The truth, had told me that the Castle bell
Should, ere I thence could make escape, be broke.
Then in a vision mystic I beheld
A long black bier on every side adorn'd
With broken lilies, crosses and with plants ;
And many persons I on couches saw
Diseased and rack'd with anguish and with pain.
I saw the demon, the tormenting fiend
That persecutes the souls of mortal men,
Now with his horrors these, now those appal :
To me he turn'd, and said, I '11 pierce the heart
Of whosoever hurts or injures thee.
Herewith upon my forehead words he wrote
Obscure, profound with Peter's mystic reed,
And silence solemnly enjoin'd me thrice.
I saw the power divine, who leads the sun
His great career, and checks him in his course,
Amidst his court celestial brightly shine.
The dazzled eyes of mortals seldom see
A vision with such various glories fraught.
I heard a solitary bird of night,
Sing on a rock a dismal fun'ral dirge ;
I thence inferr'd with certainty, this note
To mc announces life, but death to you.
My just complaint 1 then both sang and wrote.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 11
Implored God's pardon and his friendly aid ;
For sight began to, fail me, and I felt
The iron hand of death upon my eyes.
Never was lion, tiger, wolf, or Bear
Of human blood more thirsty, than the foe
That now with furious rage attack'd my life ;
More poisonous never was the viper's bite :
The foe, I mean a cruel captain, came
Attended with a band of ruffians vile-
Just as rapacious bailiffs haste to seize
A trembling debtor with relentless hands,
So rush'd those sons of brutal force upon me.
'Twas on the first of August that they came
To drag me to a dismal dungeon, worse
By far than that in which so long I 'd groan'd :
A cell in which the most abandon'd crew,
The refuse of the prison are confined.
Yet in this sad distress I soon received,
Though unexpected, succour and relief.
My foes, when thus their hellish spite they saw
Defeated, to fell poison had recourse ;
But here again the Almighty interposed,
For first I ever turn'd my thoughts to God,
And loud his grace and aid divine implored.
My poignant anguish being thus assuaged,
Whilst I prepared to render up my soul,
Resign'd to pass unto a better state,
I saw an angel from the heav'ns descend
Holding a glorious palm-branch in his hand.
With looks then joyous, placid, and serene,
He promised to my life a longer date:
The angel spoke to me in terms like these ;
¦*' Thy foes shall all be humbled to the dust,
And thou shalt lead a life of lasting bliss,
Favour'd by heaven and earth's eternal sire."

12 MEMOIRS OF

CHAPTER II.

The Author being set at liberty pays a visit to Ascanio, at Tag-
liacozzo — He returns to Rome, and finishes a fine cup fbr
the Cardinal of Ferrara — Account of his Venus and Cupid,
his Amphitrite and Tritons, with other performances —
He enters into the service of the French King Francis I.
and sets out with the Cardinal of Ferrara for Paris —
Affray with the postmaster of Camollia — He arrives at
Florence, where he stays four days with his sister.
Whilst I lodged in the palace of the Cardinal
of Ferrara I was universally respected, and re
ceived more visits than even at first ; every body
expressing the highest surprise at my having
emerged out of such distress, and struggled
through such a variety of hardships and miseries.
As I was recovering by degrees, I exerted my
utmost efforts to become again expert in my pro
fession, and took great delight in copying out the
above verses. The better to re-establish my
health, I rode out to take the air, havino- first
asked the good Cardinal's leave, and borrowed
his horses. Upon these occasions 1 was uenerallv

BENVENUTO CELLINT. 13
accompanied by two young Roman citizens, one
of whom was bred to my own business, the other
not. When I was out of Rome I steered my
course towards Tagliacozzo, thinking to meet
with my pupil Ascanio, of whom mention' has so
frequently been made. Upon my arrival I found
Ascanio there with his father, his brothers, his
sisters, and his mother-in-law: I met with so
kind a reception, and was so greatly caressed
during a stay of two days, that I am unable to
give the reader an adequate idea of their civilities.
I then set out for Rome, and carried Ascanio with
me. By the way we talked of business ; and
such an effect had this conversation upon me, that
I grew quite impatient to be again at Rome, in
order to resume my trade.
Upon our return to that capital, I fell to work
with the utmost assiduity, and happening acci
dentally to find a silver bason, which I had un
dertaken for the Cardinal just before my impri
sonment, (at the time that I set about this bason,
I likewise began a fine cup, of which I was robbed,
with several other things of great value,) I put
Paolo, who has been spoken of above, upon the
bason ; and I myself took in hand the cup, which
consisted of round figures in basso rilievo. In
like m.anner the bason contained little round
figures and fishes in basso rilievo ; and it was so
rich, and the workmanship so exquisite, that all
who saw it Were in the utmost surprise, as well
on account of the force of genius and invention in

14 MEMOIRS OF
the design, as of the admirable- polish, which the
young artists had displayed in the execution of
the work. The Cardinal came at least twice
every day to see me, accompanied by signor
Luigi Alamanni and signor Gabbriello Cesano:*
upon these occasions we passed an hour or two
merrily, though I had a great deal of business,
which required dispatch. He at the same time
put several other works into my hands, and em
ployed me to make his pontifical seal, which was
about the size of the hand of a child twelve years
old. Upon this seal I carved two little pieces of
history, one was John preaching in the Wilder
ness, the other was St. Ambrosio routing the
Arians, represented on horseback, and with a
whip in his hand. The design of this seal was so
bold and admirable, the workmanship so exqui
site, and the polish so fine, that every body said
I had surpassed the great Lautizio, whose talents
were confined to this branch alone ; and the Car
dinal in the joy of his heart ostentatiously com
pared it to the other seals of the Romau Car
dinals, which were almost all by the above-men
tioned artist.
At the same time that the Cardinal gave me the
* Gabriello Cesano da Pisa was a doctor of laws, and is
named by Varchi in his " Ercolano," as a scholar of some
repute. He was attached to the Court of the Cardinal Ippolito
de' Medici, and appears to have been in the service of the
Cardinal d'Este.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 15
other two works, he employed me to make the
model of a salt-cellar, but desired it should be in
a different taste from the common ones. Signor
Luigi said many excellent things concerning this
salt-cellar, signor Gabbriello Cesano likewise
spoke admirably upon the subject, but the Car
dinal, who had listened with the utmost attention,
and seemed highly pleaded with the designs which
these two ingenious gentlemen proposed, said to
me, " Benvenuto, the plans of signor Luigi and
signor Gabbxiello please me so highly, that I
am in doubt which to give the preference to : I
therefore leave it to you to make a choice, as you
are charged with executing the work." I then
said, " Gentlemen, do but consider of what im
portance the sons of kings and emperors are, and
what a wonderful splendour and emanation of the
Godhead, is conspicuous in them ; yet ask but a
poor humble shepherd, which he has the greatest
love and affection for, these children of emperors
and kings, or his own ; he will, doubtless, answer
you that he loves his own offspring best. In like
manner I have a strong paternal affection for my
own child ; so that the first model I intend to
shew you, most revered patron, shall be my own
work and invention : for many plans appear very
plausible when delivered in words, whieh have
but an indifferent effect when carried into execu
tion." I then turned about to the two virtuosi,
and said, " O gentlemen, you have given us your
plans in words; but I will shew you mine in

16 MEMOIRS OF
practice." Thereupon signor Luigi Alamanni, with
a smiling countenance, spoke a long time in my
favour, and that in the most complaisant manner
imaginable : in doing this he acquitted himself
with extraordinary grace, for he had a pleasing
aspect, an elegant shape, and an harmonious
voice. Signor Gabbriello Cesano was quite the
reverse of him : as ill-shaped in his person as
ungracious in his manner; and when he spoke he
acquitted himself awkwardly. The plan pro
posed by signor Luigi was, that I should repre
sent a Venus with a Cupid, and several fine de
vices round them suited to the subject. Signor
Gabbriello was for having me represent Amphitrite,
the wife of Neptune, and the Tritons, Neptune's
attendants, with other ornaments very fine in
idea, but extremely difficult to be carried into
execution. I designed an oval, almost two-thirds of a cubit
in size ; and upon this oval, as the sea appears to
embrace the earth, I made two figures about a
hand high, in a sitting posture, one with its legs
within those of the other, as some long branches
of the sea are seen to enter the land ; and in the
hand of a male figure, representing the ocean, I
put a ship contrived with great art, in which was
deposited a large quantity of salt; under this I
represented four sea-horses, and in the right
hand of the ocean I put his trident. The earth I
represented by a female figure, the most elegant
and beautiful I could form an idea of, leaning

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 17
with one hand against a grand and magnificent
temple : this was to hold the pepper. In the
other hand I put a cornucopia adorned with all
the embellishments I could think of. To com
plete this idea, in that part which appeared to
be earth, I represented all the most beautiful
animals which that element produces. In the
part which stood for the sea, I designed the finest
sorts of fish and shells which so small a space was
capable of containing : in the remainder of the
oval I placed several grand and noble ornaments.
Having then waited till the Cardinal came with
the two virtuosi above-mentioned, I in their pre
sence produced my model in wax. The first
. who spoke was signor Gabbriele Cesano, who
made a great stir upon the occasion, and said,
" This is a work that the lives of ten men would
be hardly sufficient to execute ; and you, most
reverend Cardinal, who desired to have it finished
in your lifetime, are never likely to see it. Ben
venuto has indeed thought proper to shew you
some of his offspring ; but he has not done like
us, who proposed only such things as were feasi
ble : he has, brought you a plan which it is im
possible to finish." Upon this signor Luigi Ala
manni took my part. The Cardinal, however,
said, that he did not choose to be concerned in so
great an undertaking. I thereupon turned to
them and replied, " Most reverend Cardinal, I
must beg leave to tell you, that I expect to com
plete this work at all events, and you will see it.
VOL. II. c

18 MEMOIRS OF
when finished, a hundred times more luxuriant
in ornaments than its model. I even hope to
have more than sufficient time to bring works of
much greater consequence to perfection." The
Cardinal said in a passion, " If you do not make
it for the King of France, to whom I intend to
introduce you, there is no likelihood of your
finishing it for any other person :" he then shewed
me the letters, in which the King wrote to him to
return directly, and bring Benvenuto with him.
Seeing this, I lifted up my hands to Heaven, and
exclaimed, " When will that directly come?" He
bid me lose no time, but settle my affairs at
Rome in ten days.
The time for our departure being arrived, the
Cardinal made me a present of a fine horse, to
which he gave the name of Tornon, because it was
a present from a cardinal of that name.* Paolo and
• Francesco di Tournon, who was related to the King of
France, and had been created Cardinal in 1530, was one of the
greatest ministers of state in that age. Francis I. in acknowledg
ment of his having been in a great measure indebted to this
prelate for his enlargement from captivity, entrusted him with
the most important affairs of his kingdom. Thus the marriage
of that prince with tlie sister of Charles V. that of his son with
Catherine de' Medici, and the different treaties of peace into
which he entered, were conducted by him ; and he was finally
entrusted with the office of commissary to the armies. He con
tinued in tlie enjoyment of his high reputation, even after the
death of that monarch, and was employed by the court to an
extreme old age. His riches were very great. He drew from
his ecclesiastical benefices alone an income of more than a million

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 19
Ascanio, my apprentices, were likewise provided
with horses. The Cardinal divided his retinue,
which was very considerable : the chief part of it
he took with him, following the road to Romagna,
in order to visit our Lady at Loretto, and then to
proceed to his own house at Ferrara ; the other
part he sent towards Florence — this was superior
in number to the former, and made a grand ap
pearance on account of the beauty of the horses.
He desired me to keep him company, if I had a
mind to travel in security, telling me that if I did
otherwise, my life would be in danger. I gave
him to understand that I proposed to follow his
direction ; but, as what is decreed by Heaven
must necessarily come to pass, it pleased God to
recall to my memory my poor sister, who was so
much concerned for the great misfortunes I had
undergone. I at the same time thought of my
cousins, who were nuns at Viterbo, one of them
abbess, and the other treasurer, insomuch that

of livres. He made, however, a good use of his wealth, and
was a liberal protector of letters. Mureto and Lambino were
almost continually in his train. As a pious ecclesiastic and a
judicious politician, he opposed with the greatest success the fa
vour which was then displayed by the court of France towards
the religious innovations of the Protestants. It appears that he
persuaded Francis I . to revoke the permission he had granted
to Melancthon to come to Paris ; and he is represented as having
proceeded with extreme severity in delivering to the flames the
followers of the reformed religion in his diocese of Lyons. He
died at the age of 73, in 1562.
c 2

20 MEMOIRS OF
between them they governed that rich monastery.
As they had suffered so much on my account, and
prayed for me so fervently, I took it for granted
that I had obtained the grace of God by virtue of
the prayers of these good women. These things
occurring at once to my memory, I took the road
to Florence. Thus though I might have had all
my charges borne by travelling with the Cardinal
and his retinue, I chose to perform the journey
at my own expense, taking with me as a compa
nion an excellent clock- maker named Cherubino,
who was my intimate friend. As we happened
to meet accidentally upon the road, we chose to
perform this agreeable journey together. When
I set out for Rome on Monday in Passion-week,
I was attended only by my two apprentices : at
Monterosi I came up with the company above-
mentioned ; and as I had signified my intention
to travel with the Cardinal, I did not imagine
that any of my enemies would have thought of
waylaying me. But I met with an unlucky
disaster at Monterosi ; for a body of men well
armed had gone before us to that town with
a design to attack me ; and so it happened that
whilst we were at dinner, these men, who had
discovered that 1 had quitted the Cardinal's reti
nue, lay in ambush for me, and were preparing
to perpetrate their villainous design. Just at this
juncture the retinue of the Cardinal came up,
and with it 1 travelled joyfully to Viterbo, with
out any sort of danger. I went on several miles

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 21
before, and the bravest men in the Cardinal's re
tinue had a high esteem for me.
Being by God's providence arrived safe and in
good health at Viterbo, I was received with the
utmost kindness by my sisters and the whole
monastery. After leaving that city with the com
pany above-mentioned, we rode on sometimes be
fore and sometimes behind the retinue of the
Cardinal, so that by six o'clock on Holy Thursday
evening we were come within a stage of Sienna.
Perceiving that there were some returned horses at
the inn, and that the post-master waited an op
portunity to give them to travellers to ride back
to Sienna, I instantly dismounted from my horse
Tornon, and putting my saddle and stirrups upon
him, gave a piece of money to one of the post
boys ; then leaving my horse to the care of my
apprentices, I spurred on in order to get to Sienna
half an hour before fhe rest, that I might have
time to visit my friends and transact some busi
ness in the town. Though this horse carried me
with tolerable speed, I did not however ride it too
hard. As soon as we arrived, I took rooms at a
good inn, for five persons : the horse I sent back
by the ostler to the post-house, which was with
out the gate that leads to Comollia ; and upon it
I had through forgetfulness left my stirrups and
saddle. We passed the night very merrily on
Holy Thursday, The next day, which was Good
Friday, I recollected my stirrups and saddle.
Upon my sending for them, the post-master made

22 MEMOIRS OF
answer that he would not return them, because
I had overworked his horse. Several messages
passed between us, but he persisted in re
fusing to return them, and that with much op
probrious and abusive language. The innkeeper
at whose house I lay, said to me at the same
time, " It is well for you if he does not do some
thing worse than keep your saddle and your stir
rups : he is one of the most insolent men that has
ever had the place of post-master in this city, and
he has two sons in the army who are desperate
fellows, and more insolent than their father him
self." He therefore advised me to make all the
haste I could in buying whatever I might stand in
need of, and leave the place directly without en
tering into any contest with him. I thereupon
bought a pair of stirrups, thinking to recover my
saddle by fair means ; and as I was extremely well
mounted, armed with a coat of mail, and had an
excellent piece at the pommel of my saddle, I was
not in the least intimidated by this report of the
insolence and brutality of the post-master. I had
likewise used my apprentices to wear coats of mail
under their clothes ; and I had great confidence
in my young Roman, who seemed never to have
neglected this defence, whilst we were at Rome.
Even Ascanio, though in his tender years, wore a
coat of mail, and as it was Good Friday, I ima
gined that the folly of these wretches would for
that day subside.
We soon anived at the post-house at Comollia,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 23
and I immediately saw and knew the post-master
by tokens that had been given me, particularly
by his being blind of an eye. I went up to him,
and leaving my two young fellows and the rest of
my company at a little distance, said mildly :
" Mr. Post-master, when I assure you that I have
not ridden your horse very hard, why do you
make a difficulty of restoring me my saddle and
stirrups ? " He answered with all the violence and
brutality I had been prepared for. I thereupon
said to him, "What! are you not a Christian,
and do you intend to bring a scandal both upon
yourself and me this Good Friday ? " He answer
ed that he cared neither for Good Friday nor the
devil's Friday, and that if I did not get about
my business, he would soon with his long pike lay
me sprawling upon the ground, musket and all.
Upon his speaking to me thus roughly, there
came up an old gentleman of Sienna, a very polite
worthy man, who was just come from performing
the devotions usual on that day. Having, though
at a distance, heard what I had to say for myself,
and perceiving that I was in the right, he boldly
reproved the post-master, took my part, and repri
manded the two sons for behaving rudely to
strangers, by swearing and blasphmeing, and
thereby bringing a scandal upon the city of
Sienna. The two young fellows, sons to the post
master, shook their heads, and without returning
any answer retired. The incensed father, ex
asperated by what was said by the worthy gen-

24 MEMOIRS OF
lleman that interposed in my behalf, ran at me
with his long pike, cursing and blaspheming, and
swore he would instantly be the death of me.
When 1 saw him thus determined, I, to keep him
off for a while, presented the muzzle of my piece
at him. He, notwithstanding, flew at me with
redoubled fury ; and the gun which I held in my
hand, though in a proper position for my own de
fence, was not rightly levelled at him, but, the
muzzle being raised aloft, it went off of itself.
The ball hit against the arch over the street-door,
and having rebounded entered the post-master's
wind-pipe, who instantly fell dead upon the
ground. His sons thereupon rushed out of the
house, and one having taken down arms from a
rack, whilst the other seized his father's pike,
they both fell upon the young men in my com
pany : the son who had the pike, wounded Paolo,
the Roman, in the left breast ; and the other fell
upon a Milanese in our company, a foolish fellow,
who would not ask quarter or declare that he had
no connexion with me, but defending himself
against a partisan with a short stick which he had
in his hand, found himself unable to parry his
adversary's weapon so as to prevent his being
slightly wounded in the mouth. Signor Cheru-
bino was in the habit of a priest, and though he
was an excellent clock-maker, as I observed be
fore, he had several benefices conferred on him
by the Pope, which produced him a considerable
income. Ascanio was well armed and stood his

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 25
' ground bravely, instead of offering to fly like the
Milanese, so that these two received no manner
of hurt. I spurred my horse, and whilst it was
in full gallop, quickly charged my piece again :
then I returned back in a passion, thinking that
what I had done was but a trifle ; for, as I thought
my two young men were killed, I advanced
with a firm resolution to die myself. My
horse had not gone many paces back, when I
met them both coming towards me. I asked them
whether they were hurt, and Ascanio made an
swer that Paolo had received a mortal wound with
a pike. I thereupon said to the latter, " My dear
Paolo, how comes this? Could a pike force its
way through a coat of mail ?" He then told me
that he put his coat of mail into his cloak-bag. I
replied, "What, this morning? It seems then
that coats of mail are worn at Rome to make a
shew before the ladies ; but in times of danger,
when they might be of use, they are put into the
cloak-bag ! You deserved all you have suffered,
and what you have done is the cause of my destrucr
tion also." Whilst I uttered these words, I con
tinued to turn back resolutely. Ascanio and the
other earnestly intreated me that I would for the
love of God endeavour to save my life, as well as
theirs, for that I was hurrying on to death.
Just then I met signor Cherubino, and the Mila
nese, the former of whom reproved me for my
vain fears, telling me that none of my people had
been hurt, that Paolo's wound had only razed the

26 MEMOIRS OF
skin, and had not gone deep, and that the old
post-master lay dead upon the ground. He added,
that the sons had got themselves in readiness, and
being assisted by several other persons would cer
tainly cut us all to pieces : " therefore, Benve
nuto," continued he, " since fortune has saved us
from their first fury, let us tempt her no more, for
she will not save us twice." I then said, " Since
you are satisfied, I am content ;" so turning to
Paolo and Ascanio, I bid them spur their horses
hard, and gallop on to Staggia* without ever once
stopping, observing that when we were there we
should be in safety. The wounded Milanese then
said, " A plague of this unlucky adventure; this
mischief was owing to a little soup which I ate
yesterday, when I had nothing else for my dinner.''
Notwithstanding our great distress, we could not
help laughing at the fool, and at his silly expres
sions. We clapped spurs to our horses and left
signor Cherubino and the Milanese, who were for
riding on gently, to follow us at their leisure. In
the mean time the sons of the deceased repaired
to the duke of Melfif, and requested him to grant
* Staggio, or Staggia, is 10 miles from Sienna.
t The republic of Sienna, which was under the protection of
Charles V., was then governed by Alphonso Piccolomini, duke
of Amalii, who had been created captain-general of tlie Siennese
in 15I2S1. He was descended from Nanni Tedeschini da Sarte-
ano, who, in consequence of his having married a sister of Pius
II. , had been, together with his descendants, reckoned amongst
the family of Piccolomini. Having distinguished himself in

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 27
them a troop of light horse to pursue and take us.
The duke, being informed that we belonged to the
retinue ofthe Cardinal of Ferrara, Would not grant
their request.
In the mean time we arrived at Staggia ; where
we were in perfect security : upon our arrival we
sent for the best surgeon that could be found in
the place, who, examining Paolo's wound, de
clared that it did not pass the skin and there was
no danger: we then ordered dinner to be got
ready. Soon after signor Cherubino made his
appearance with the fool of a Milanese, who was
constantly exclaiming : "A plague of all quarrels
and disputes !" adding that he had incurred ex
communication, because he had not had time to
say his pater-noster that good morning. This man
was hard-favoured, and had naturally an ugly wide
mouth, but by the wound he had received it was
enlarged above three inches. These circumstances,
with his ludicrous Milanese jargon, and his foolish
sayings, made us so merry, that instead of lament-
arms under the Emperor, and being under the protection of the
Spanish Court, as well as in favour with a powerful popular
* party, he might with ease have made himself sovereign of Sienna.
But Alfonso, abandoning himself to pleasures, and the love of
popularity, did not profit by these favourable circumstances ;
carried away by the love he bore Agnes Salvi, he was induced
to leave unpunished the misconduct of her family, and thus gave
occasion to many disorders and repeated accusations against his
government, the result of which was, that he was, in 1541, ba
nished from Sienna by order of the Emperor Charles V.

28 MEMOIRS OF
ing our ill-fortune, we could not help laughing at
every word he uttered. As the surgeon wanted
to sew the wound in his mouth, and had already
made three stitches in it, he desired him to stop,
telling him he would not upon any account have
him sew it up entirely. He then took up a spoon-
and desired it might be left so far open as to leave
room for such a spoon to enter, that he might re
turn alive to his companions. These words, which
he uttered with many nods and ludicrous gestures,
made us so merry, that instead of bewailing our
ill-fortune, we never ceased laughing, and in this
manner continued our journey to Florence.
We dismounted at the house of my poor sister,
where we were most kindly received, and very
much caressed by her and my cousin. Signor
Cherubino and the Milanese went where their re
spective affairs called them : we stayed four days
at Florence, during which Paolo was cured. The
most diverting circumstance was, that whenever
the fool of a Milanese became the subject of dis
course, we all laughed as heartily as we lamented
our other misfortunes, insomuch that we were
constantly laughing and crying in the same
breath.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 29

CHAPTER III.
The Author arrives at Ferrara, where he is caressed by the sove
reign of that duchy, and employed to make his statue in
marble. — The climate disagrees with him, and he is taken ill,
but recovers by eating wild peacocks. — Misunderstanding be
tween him and the duke's servants, attended with several
untoward circumstances. — After many difficulties and delays,
he resumes his journey, and arrives safe at Lyons, from
whence he proceeds to Fontainbleau, where the Court at that
time resided.
After we had stayed four days at Florence, we
took the road to Ferrara, and there found the
Cardiual, who having heard all the cross accidents
that had befallen us, said with concern, " God
grant that I may carry you alive to the King, ac
cording to my promise to his Majesty!" The
Cardinal assigned me an apartment in a palace of
his at Ferrara, a magnificent building, called Bel-
fiore, contiguous to the walls of the city; and
there he caused tools and all things necessary to
be provided for me, that I might work at my bu
siness. He then ordered his retinue to set out for
France without me, and seeing me very melan-

30 MEMOIRS OF
choly at being left behind, he said to me, " Ben
venuto, all I do is for your good ; for before you
leave Italy, I should be glad you were upon a
certainty with regard to your employment in
France. In the mean time proceed as fast as you
can with the bason and the little cup ; and I
will leave orders with my steward to supply you
with whatever money you may want."
Upon his departure I remained highly dis
satisfied, and often thought of leaving the place :
the only consideration that prevented me, was
my being then out of the power of Pope Paul;
for in all other respects 1 was highly discontented,
and very much a sufferer. I however assumed
those sentiments of gratitude, which the favour
seemed to deserve, endeavouring to wait with
patience and see how this adventure would end.
I fell therefore hard to work with my two appren
tices, and went surprisingly forward with my
bason and cup. In the part of the city where
we lodged, the air was rather unwholesome, and as
we came about summer-time, we were all some
what indisposed. During this our indisposition
we made a discovery of a great waste, about a
mile in extent, that belonged to the palace in
which we lived, and where several peacocks came
like wild fowl to hatch their eggs. When I per
ceived this, I charged my piece with powder,
and lying in wait for the young peacocks, I every
day killed one of them, which served us plenti
fully to live upon; and such was the effect of

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 31
this food that it entirely cured our disorder.
Thus we continued our work with alacrity for
several months that we had to stay, and went
forward with the bason and the cup — a work that
required considerable application.
About this time the duke of Ferrara accommo
dated his differences with Pope Paul, relative to
Modena and some other cities ; and as the claims
of the Church were just, the duke made this
peace by dint of money : the sum given upon the
occasion was considerable, and 1 think it ex
ceeded three hundred thousand ducats.* The
duke had at that time an old treasurer, who had
been brought up at the court of the duke his
father, and wliQse name was signor Girolamo
Gigliolo: this old man could not bear that so
great a sum should be given to the Pope, so that
* The controversies between the Courts of Rome and of
Ferrara subsisted unjtil the times of Julius II. who, not satisfied
with having driven the Venetians from Romagna by means of
the famous league concluded at Cambray in 1508, aimed at no
less than depriving the French nation of all its dominions
in Italy. Alfonso da Este, who, as duke of Ferrara, was a
feudatory of the Church, in consequence of his unwillingness on
this occasion to detach himself from his alliance with Louis XII.,
experienced, in 1510, the indignation of the Pope, who pro
nounced him excommunicated and fallen from his dominions, and
even went so far as to deprive him of Modena and Reggio,
which were imperial feuds. Many treaties were afterwards
entered into by Alfonso with Julius himself, as well as with
Leo X. by both of whom absolution was granted to him ; but
far from obtaining the re-possession of the territories of which

32 MEMOIRS OF
he ran about the streets crying out aloud : "Duke
Alphonso, our present duke's father, would sooner
have taken Rome with this money, than have
given it to the Pope;" and he would obey no
order for paying it. The duke having, however,
at last forced him to pay the money, the old man
was attacked by a flux so violent that it brought
him almost to the brink of the grave. Whilst he
lay ill, the duke sent for me and desired me to
take his likeness ; I accordingly drew his picture
upon a round black stone about the size of a little
dish. The duke was greatly pleased with my
performance, and with some agreeable conver
sations which passed between us: the conse
quence was, that he generally stayed at least four
or five hours a day to have his likeness taken,
and sometimes he made me sup with him at his
he had been deprived, he found himself in danger of losing
Ferrara itself. In this situation he had recourse to arms ; and
with the assistance of Charles V. recovered Reggio in 1523 and
Modena in 1527. The Pontiffs Clement VII. and Paul III.
were obliged, by the critical circumstances in whicli they were
placed, to dissemble their real intentions, but they never sincerely
pardoned the house of Este ; and although two arbitrations were
agreed to and decided upon by the Emperor Charles V., in 1531
and 1535, the Court of Rome did not grant to the house of
Este a definitive peace until 1539, when Don Francesco
d'Este succeeded in concluding a treaty at Rome in the name of
the duke Ercole II. his brother, and again obtained the investi
ture of his territories (whicli had been formerly granted by
Alexander VI. to the house of Este) on payment of 180,000
ducats of gold. (Vid. Muratori.—Antkhiti) Estcnsi.J

BENyENUTO CELLINI. 33
own table. In a week's time I finished this por
trait : he then ordered me to make a reverse ;
the design of it was a female figure, that repre
sented peace holding in her hand a small torch,
with which she set fire to a trophy of arms. This
female figure I represented in a joyous attitude,
with garments of the thinnest sort, which flowed
with the utmost grace ; under her I designed a
fury in despair, and bound with heavy chains.
In this work I exerted the utmost efforts of my
art, and it did me great honour: the duke re
peatedly expressed the highest satisfaction at my
performance, and gave me the inscription for the
head of his excellency as well as for the reverse.
The words intended for the reverse were "Pretiosa
in conspectu domini :" this intimated that the peace
had been dearly purchased for a large sum of
money. Whilst I was busy about this reverse, the Car
dinal wrote to me to get ready, for the King in
sisted upon my coming directly, and that the
next time I heard from him, I should receive an
order for all he had promised me. I caused my
bason and cup to be packed up, having before
shewn them to the duke. A gentleman of Ferrara,
whose name was signor Alberto Bendidio, was
agent to the Cardinal : this person had been twelve
years without ever stirring out of his house, on
account of a lingering disorder. He one day
sent for me in a great hurry, and said that I must
that instant take post, and use the utmost expe-
VOL. II. D

34 MEMOIRS OF
dition to wait upon the King, who had enquired
for me with the greatest eagerness and solicitude,
thinking I was in France. The Cardinal, to ex
cuse himself, had told the monarch, that I had
stopped at an abbey of his at Lyons, being some
what indisposed, but that he would take care I
should be shortly with his majesty: therefore
I must take post and repair to the court of France
with all speed. This signor Alberto was a very
worthy man, but haughty, and his disorder ren
dered his pride and humour insupportable : he
told me that I must without delay prepare to ride
post. I made answer that it was not customary
with men of my calling to ride post ; but that if
I were to proceed to the court of France, I should
choose to go by easy stages, and to carry with me
Ascanio and Paolo my companions and artificers,
whom I had brought from Rome ; adding that
there must likewise be a servant with us on horse
back, to attend us, and that I expected to be
supplied with a sum sufficient to defray the
charges of the journey. The infirm old man then
proudly made answer, that " the dukes sons tra
velled in the very manner I had described." I
instantly replied, " that the sons of the art which
I professed, travelled in the manner I said ; and
that as I had never been the son of a'duke, I did
not know how such gentry appeared on their
journeys ; therefore I would not go to France at
all, as well because the Cardinal had broken the
promise he had made me, as that I had now

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 35
received such insulting language.'' I then formed
a resolution to have no more dealings with the
people of Ferrara, and turning my back on him,
I departed, murmuring my discontent, whilst he
continued to bully and insult me.
After this, 1 waited on the duke with his
medal finished : his reception of me was the
kindest imaginable, and no man was ever more
caressed by a prince. He had given orders to
signor Girolamo Gigliolo, who was then reco
vered, to look out for a diamond ring worth above
two hundred crowns, as the reward of my labour,
and put it into the hands of Fraschino, one of
the gentlemen of his bed-chamber, who was to
give it to me : these orders were obeyed. Fras
chino, on the same evening that 1 had given him
the medal, put a ring into my hands, with a dia
mond set in it, which made a great shew, and
told me from the duke, that my masterly hand,
which had acquitted itself so admirably in conse
crating the memory of his excellency, well de
served to be adorned with such a diamond. The
day following I examined the ring, the diamond
of which was an inconsiderable one; not worth
above ten crowns ; and as I could not conceive
that the duke could use such grand expressions
in giving so trifling a premium, or that he ima
gined he had properly recompensed me, I took it
for granted that the rogue of a treasurer had
played me a trick. I therefore gave the ring to
a friend, desiring him to contrive some way or
d 2

36 MEMOIRS OF
other to return it to Fraschino, the gentleman of
the bed-chamber. This friend was Bernardo Sa-
liti, who performed the commission admirably.
Fraschino immediately came to me, and made a
terrible stir, telling me that if the duke was to
discover that I had been so rude as to return a
present, which he had made me in so kind and
gracious a manner, he would certainly resent it,
and I might very possibly repent my having taken
so indiscreet a step. To this I answered, that
the ring which his excellency had sent me, was
not worth above ten crowns, and the work which
I had done for him came to above two hundred;
but to shew his excellency that it was his favour
alone I set a value upon, he might send me one
of those English crab-rings*, which are worth
only ten-pence, and I would keep it in remem
brance of him as long as I lived; at the same time
retaining in mind those honourable expressions
of his excellency concerning my genius and abi
lities : for I considered my labour as abundantly
paid by the honour of having served so great a
prince, whereas a jewel of so little value dis
graced me. These words occasioned the duke
so much displeasure, that he sent for his trea
surer, and reproved him most severely: he at the
same time sent me orders not to leave Ferrara,
without apprising him of my departure, and com
manded his treasurer to give me a diamond worth

* One of those metallic rings which are considered useful for
that muscular contraction called the cramp.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 37
three hundred crowns. The avaricious treasurer
found one, the value of which was not above sixty
crowns, and maintained that it was worth con
siderably above two hundred.
In the mean time signor Alberto had taken the
right method of proceeding, and furnished me
with all I had desired for my journey. I had re
solved by all means to quit Ferrara directly, but
the duke's careful chamberlain had so concerted
matters with signor Benedetto, that I could not
that day provide myself with horses. I had
loaded a mule with my baggage, and with it I
packed up the bason and the cup which I had
made for the Cardinal. Just at this juncture
came in a gentleman of Ferrara, whose name was
signor Alphonso de' Trotti*: he was advanced in
years, exceedingly affable, and delighted greatly
in talents and genius ; but at the same time he
was one of those that are very hard to be pleased,
and who, if they happen to see any thing which
strikes them, represent it to their imaginations
as so admirable, so divine, that they never expect
again to see any thing equal to it. Signor Al
phonso, as I before observed, happening to enter
the room just at this time, Alberto said to him, " It
happens unluckily that you are come too late, for
the cup and bason that we are sending to France
to the Cardinal are now packed up." Alphonso
* Alfonso de' Trotti was a person of some importance, and
had been a faithful, just, and diligent minister of finance to
Alfonso I. (See P. Giovio, Vita de Alf. I.)

38 MEMOIRS OF
hearing this, said, he did not care; and upon
beckoning to his servant, the latter went to his
house, and brought from thence a white bowl,
made of clay, from Faenza*, the workmanship of
which was admirable. Whilst the servant was
going on his errand, Alphonso said to Alberto,
" I will tell you why I have no longer any curio
sity to see cups or any other sort of vases. I once
beheld an antique silver cup of such extraordi
nary beauty, that human imagination is incapable
of forming an adequate idea of its excellence.
Since that time, I am indifferent about seeing any
thing else of the same kind, lest it should destroy
the idea that I had formed in my imagination.
It was in the possession of a person of condition,
of great taste, who happening to go to Rome
about some business, this antique cup was shewn
him secretly, aud he by dint of money having
corrupted the person who had the custody of it,
brought it away with him ; but he takes care to
keep it from the knowledge of the duke, for he is
afraid he should be deprived of it, if his excel
lency should once "come to know of his being
possessed of so valuable a treasure.'" Whilst Al
phonso was telling this long story, he never once

* Faenza is so celebrated for its manufacture of terra-cotta,
that its name (Fayence) is given in France to porcelain. Thus
the French manufacturers shewed their gratitude to Faenza, in
the same manner in which the Italians had displayed it to
Majorca, from which place they had anciently received this
manufacture (in Italian called Mnyilica).

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 39
took notice of me, though I was present all the
time. In the meanwhile, this fine piece of
earthenware made its appearance, and was dis
played with such pomp and ostentation, that I no
sooner set my eyes upon it, than I turned to Al
berto, and said: "I am happy in having seen
this great curiosity." Alphonso then answered
me with great contempt: " Who are you? You
seem not to know what you are saying." To this
I replied, " Listen to me, and you will see which
of us knows best what he is saying." Then turn
ing to signor Alberto, who was a man of great
gravity and uncommon genius, I spoke thus :
" Here is a little silver cup of such a weight,
which I made at such a time for that mountebank
Giacopo, a surgeon of Carpi, who came to Rome,
stayed there six months, and by means of a quack
medicine took in several noblemen and poor gen
tlemen, whom he defrauded of many thousands of
ducats ; at that time I made this cup for him,
and another of a different sort, and he paid me
very ill both for the one and the other. At pre
sent all the unfortunate gentlemen, who used his
nostrum, are at Rome, crippled, and in a most
wretched condition. It is a great honour to me
that my works have acquired so high a degree of
reputation amongst men of fortune like you ; but
I must tell you, that for many years past I have
laboured with the utmost assiduity to learn and
improve ; so that I cannot but be of opinion that
the cup which I am carrying to France will prove

40 MEMOIRS OF
much more worthy of the Cardinal and the King,
than the other did of the quack-doctor." As soon
as I had delivered myself to this effect, Alphonso
appeared to be in the utmost impatience to see
the bason and cup, and I persisted in refusing to
gratify his curiosity. This contest having lasted
for some time between us, he declared that he
would go to his excellency, and by his means
contrive to get a sight of it. Thereupon Alberto
Bendidio, who, as I have already observed, was a
very proud, haughty man, said, " Before you
leave this place, signor Alphonso, you shall see it
without being under the necessity of making any
application to the duke. I quitted the room, and
left Ascanio and Paolo to shew it to them: they
afterwards told me that the gentlemen had paid
me a great many compliments, and spoke highly
in my favour. Signor Alphonso then expressed
a desire of contracting an intimacy with me, so
that I began to grow quite impatient to leave
Ferrara. The only valuable or useful acquaintance I
made there, were Cardinal Salviati* and the
Cardinal of Ravennaf , with some of the connois-
* The Cardinal Gio. Salviati was archbishop of Ferrara ; and
had there been the patron and friend of Giraldi, Pigna, Gagi,
and many other men of genius.
t The Cardinal Benedetto Accolti, who, after having been
restored to liberty by Paul III., had devoted himself to study
and the society of men of letters, was living at this period in
Ferrara, as is proved by the learned Mazzuchelli, without how-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 41
seurs in music * ; for the gentry of Ferrara are not
only exceedingly avaricious, but rapacious after
the property of others, and endeavour to get pos
session of it by every expedient they can think of:
this is the general character of them all. About
ten o'clock Fraschino came and delivered me the
diamond, which was worth above sixty crowns ;
desiring me with a melancholy countenance, and
in few words, to wear it for his excellency's

ever noticing this passage of Cellini,* thus refuting Ughelli,
who says that he retired to Ravenna.
* It will not appear strange, that Cellini should here mention
the musicians of Ferrara, in company with two eminent Car
dinals, Accolti and Salviati, when it is considered that music
then flourished, and was held in high estimation in this city.
This art, which was revived in the dominions of the house of
Este, about the year 1050, by the labours of the famous Guido
Aretino, monk of Pomposa, always found great supporters
amongst the Ferrarese. Not to mention the particular protec
tion granted by that Court to the celebrated Flemish musi
cians, Josquino de Pres, Adriano Willaert, and Cipriano de Rore,
who were the greatest masters of the sixteenth century : it will
be sufficient here to notice, that in that very year (1540) there
lived in Ferrara many professors so eminent as to leave their
names famous in fhe annals of music. Such were Ludovico
Fogliani, and Don Nicola Vicentino, a priest, both writers upon
the new musical theory ; the Canon Afranio de' Conti Albo-
nesi di Pavia, the reputed inventor of the Fagotto ; and Giacopo
Fogliano, an excellent organist. Anna and Lucrezia, the two
daughters of duke Ercole IL, who made great progress in
the most profound studies, cultivated music also with such suc
cess as to merit the particular praise of Ricci, Giraldi, Calca-
gnini, and Patrizi, concerning whom see the dedication of the
Deca Istoriak.

42 MEMOIRS OF
sake. I made answer, I should. I then mounted
my horse, and set out upon my journey, trusting
myself to Providence. The treasurer took notice
of aU my gestures and words, and gave informa
tion thereof to the duke, who seemed to be in
censed with what he heard to the highest degree,
and was very near ordering me to be brought
back. Before night I had travelled above ten miles,
trotting all the way, and upon finding mvself the
day following out of the district of Ferrara I was
highly rejoiced ; for I had never met with any
thing good in that country, except the peacocks,
by which 1 had recovered my health. We steered
our course by mount Cenis, taking particular care
to keep clear of Milan on account of the suspi
cion above-mentioned, and soon aftei I arrived
safe and in health at Lyons with Paoio, Ascanio,
and a servant : we were four in all, pretty well
mounted. Upon our arrival at Lyons we stopped
for several days to wait the coming of the mule
teer, who was charged with the silver bason and
the cup, as likewise with part of my baggage:
we were lodged in an abbey belonging to the
Cardinal. The muleteer being arrived, we packed
up every thing belonging to us very safe in a
chest, and in this manner contiuued our journey
to Paris ; by the way we met with some little
impediments whicli were not of much conse
il uence.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 43

CHAPTER IV.

The Author meets with a most gracious reception from the
French King, and attends the King in his tour to Dauphine —
Grand retinue of that prince — The Cardinal proposes to
Cellini to work for an inconsiderable salary — He is highly dis
gusted at this, and goes off abruptly upon a pilgrimage to
Jerusalem — He is pursued and brought back to the King, who
settles a handsome salary on him, and assigns him a house to
work in at Paris — He sets out for that capital, but meets with
great opposition in taking possession of the house, which how
ever he at last completely overcomes.
We found the court of the French monarch at
Fontainbleau, where we directly waited on the
Cardinal, who caused apartments to be assigned
us : we spent the night very agreeably, and were
well accommodated. The next day the waggon
came up, so we took out what belonged to us, and
the Cardinal having informed the King of our ar
rival, he expressed a desire to see me directly. I
waited on his majesty accordingly, with the cup
and bason so often mentioned: being come into
his presence I kissed his knee, and he received
me in the most gracious manner imaginable. I

44 MEMOIRS OF
then returned his majesty thanks for having pro
cured me my liberty, observing that eveiy good
and just prince like his majesty was bound to
protect all men eminent for any talent, especially
such as were innocent like myself; and that such
meritorious actions were set down in the books
of the Almighty before any other virtuous deeds
whatever. The good King listened to me till I
had made an end of my speech, and expressed
my gratitude in terms worthy of so great a
monarch. When I had done, he took the cup and
the bason, and said : " It is my real opinion that
the ancients were never capable of working in
so exquisite a taste. I have seen all the master
pieces of the greatest artists of Italy, but never
before beheld any thing that gave me such high
satisfaction." This the King said in French to
the Cardinal of Ferrara, at the same time paying
me several other compliments greater even than
this. He then turned about and said to me in
Italian : " Benvenuto, indulge yourself and take
your pleasure for a few days ; in the mean time I
shall think of putting you into a way of making
some curious piece of work for me." The Cardi
nal of Ferrara soon perceived that his majesty
was highly pleased with my arrival, and that the
specimens he had seen of my abilities, had ex
cited in him an inclination to employ me in other
works of greater importance.
Whilst we followed the court, we may justly be
said to have been in great straits, and the rea-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 45
son is that the King travels with upwards of twelve
thousand horses, his retinue in time of peace be
ing eighteen thousand. We sometimes danced at
tendance in places where there were hardly two
houses, were often under a necessity of pitching
very inconvenient tents, and lived like gipsies.
I frequently solicited the Cardinal to put the King
in mind of employing me : he made answer, that
it was best his majesty should think of it himself,
advising me to appear sometimes in his presence,
when he was at table. This advice I followed,
and the King one day called me to him whilst he
was at dinner. He told me in Italian, that he pro
posed 1 should undertake some pieces of great
importance; that he would soon let me know
where I was to work, and provide me with tools
and all things necessary; at the same time he
conversed with me in a free easy manner, on a
variety of different subjects.
The Cardinal of Ferrara was present, for he al
most always dined with the King : the conversa
tion being over, his majesty rose from table, and
the Cardinal said in my favour, as I was informed
afterwards ; " May it please your majesty, this
Benvenuto has a great desire to be at work, and it
would be a pity to let such a genius lose his time."
The King answered, that he was very right,
and desired him to settle with me all that con
cerned my subsistence. The Cardinal, who had
received the commission in the morning, sent for
me that night after supper, and told me from the

4G MI MOI RM OF
King that his majesty had resolved 1 should im
mediately begin to work ; but that he desired first
to know my terms. To this the Cardinal added,
" It is my opinion that if his majesty allows you a
salary of three hundred crowns a year, it will be
abundantly sufficient. Next I must request it
of you, that you would leave the whole manage
ment of the affair to me, for every day I have op
portunities of doing good in this great kingdom,
and I shall be always ready to assist you to the
best of my power." I answered, " Without my
ever soliciting your reverence, you promised upon
leaving me behind you in Ferrara, never to let me
quit Italy, or bring me into France, without first
apprising me upon what terms I was to be with
his majesty. But instead of acquainting me with
the terms, you sent me express orders to ride post,
as if riding post was my business. If you had
then mentioned three hundred crowns as a salary,
I should not have thought it worth my while to
stir for double the sum. I notwithstanding return
thanks to heaven and to your reverence, since
God has made you the instrument of so great a
blessing as my deliverauce from a long imprison
ment. I therefore declare that all the hurt you
can do me, is not equal to a thousandth part of
the great blessing for which I am indebted to you :
I thank you with all my heart, and take my leave
of you ; and in whatever part of the world I shall
abide, 1 shall always pray for your reverence."
The Cardinal then said iii a passion : " Go where-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 47
ever you think proper, for it is impossible to serve
any man against his will." Some of his niggardly
followers then said : " This man must have a high
opinion of his merit, since he refuses three hun
dred crowns :" others amongst the connoisseurs
replied ; " The King will never find another artist
equal to this man, and yet the Cardinal is for ba
ting him down as he would a faggot of wood."
It was signor Luigi Alamanni that said this, the
same who at Rome gave the model of the salt-cel
lar, a person of great accomplishments, and a
favourer of men of genius. I was afterwards in
formed, that he had expressed himself in this man
ner before several of the noblemen and courtiers.
This happened at a castle in Dauphin^, the name
of which I cannot recollect; but tliere we lodged
that evening.
Having left the Cardinal, I repaired to my lodg
ing, for we always took up our quarters at some
place not far from the court, but this was three
miles distant. I was accompanied by a secretary
of the Cardinal of Ferrara, who happened to be
quartered in the same place. By the way, this
secretary, with a troublesome and impertinent cu
riosity, was continually asking me what I intended
to do with myself when I got home, and what sa
lary I should have expected. I who was half
angry, half grieved, and highly provoked at hav
ing taken a journey to France, and being after
wards offered no more than three hundred crowns
a- year, never once returned him any answer : I

48 MEMOIRS OF
said nothing more to him, than that I knew all.
Upon my arrival at our quarters, I found Paolo
and Ascanio, who were waiting for me. I ap
peared to be in great disorder, and they knowing
my temper, forced me to tell them what had hap
pened. Seeing the poor young men terribly
frightened, I said to them, " To-morrow morning
I will give you money enough to bear your charges
home, for I propose going by myself about some
business of importance : it is an affair that I have
long revolved in my mind, and there is no occa
sion for your knowing it." Our apartment was
next to that of the secretary, and it seems very
probable that he might have acquainted the Car
dinal with all that I intended, and was firmly re
solved to do ; though I could never discover whe
ther he did or not. I lay restless the whole night,
and was in the utmost impatience for the approach
of day, in order to put my design in execution.
As soon as morning dawned, I ordered my horses
should be in readiness, and having got myself
ready likewise, I gave the young men all that I
had brought with me, with fifty gold ducats over,
and kept as many for myself, together with the
diamond, which the duke had made me a present
of; taking with me only two shirts, and some
very indifferent clothes to travel in, which I had
upon my back. But I could not get rid of the two
young men, who were bent upon going with me
by all means. I did my utmost to dissuade them,
and said, " One of you has only the first down

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 49
upon his cheeks, and the other has not even that ;
I have instructed you to the utmost of my poor
abilities, insomuch that you are become the two
most expert young men in your way in Italy. Are
you not then ashamed that you cannot contrive
to help yourselves, but must be always in leading-
strings ? This is a sad affair, and if I were to
dismiss you without money, what would you say ?
Be gone directly, and may God give you a thou
sand blessings ! so farewell."
I thereupon turned my horse about, and left
them both bathed in tears. I took a delightful
path through a wood, intending to ride at least
forty miles that same day, to the most remote
corner I could possibly reach. I had already rid
den about two miles, and in the little way I had
gone, formed a resolution to work at no place
where I was known ; nor did I ever intend to
work upon any other figure but a Christ, about
three cubits high, willing to make as near an ap
proach as possible to that extraordinary beauty
which he had so often displayed to me in visions.
Having now settled every thing in my own mind,
I bent my course towards the Holy Sepulchre,
thinking I was now got to such a distance, that
nobody could overtake me.
Just at this time I found myself pursued by
some horsemen, which occasioned me some ap
prehensions, for I had been informed that these
parts were infested by numbers of freebooters,
called Venturiai, who rob and murder passen-
VOL. II. E

50 MEMOIRS OF
gers, and who, though many of them are hanged
almost every day, do not seem to be in the least
intimidated. Upon the near approach of the
horsemen, I perceived them to be one of the
king's messengers accompanied by Ascanio. The
former upon coming up to me said, " I command
you, in the King's name, to repair to him directly."
I answered, " You come from the Cardinal of
Ferrara, for which reason I am resolved not to go
with you." The man replied, that, since I would
not go by fair means, he had authority to com
mand the people to bind me hand and foot like a
prisoner. Ascanio at the same time did his ut
most to persuade me to comply, reminding me
that whenever the King of France caused a man
to be imprisoned, it was generally five years
before he consented to his release. The very
name of a prison revived the idea of my con
finement at Rome, and so terrified me, that I in
stantly turned my horse the way the messenger
directed, who never once ceased chattering in
French, till he had conducted me to court : some
times he threatened me, sometimes he said one
thing and sometimes another, by which I was
provoked to such a degree, that I was almost
vexed to death.
In our way to the King's quarters, we passed
before those of the Cardinal of Ferrara, who
being at his door called me to him and said,
" Our most christian King has of his own accord
assigned you the same salary that he allowed

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 51
Lionardo da Vinci the painter, namely seven hun
dred crowns a-year.* He will pay you over and
above for whatever you do for him : he likewise
makes you a present of five hundred crowns for
your journey ; and it is his pleasure that they
should be paid you before you stir from hence.''
When the Cardinal ceased speaking, I answered
that these indeed were offers worthy of so great
a monarch. The messenger who did not know
who I was, seeing such great offers made me in
the King's name, asked me a thousand pardons.
Paolo and Ascanio said, " It. is to God we owe
this great good fortune."
The day following, I went to return his Ma
jesty thanks, who ordered me to make him models-
of twelve silver statues, which he intended should
serve as candlesticks round his table. He desired
they should be the figures of six gods and six
goddesses, made exactly of his own height,
which was very little less than three cubits.
When he had given me this order, he turned to
his treasurer and asked him whether he had paid
me five hundred crowns : the treasurer made

* Louis XII., who from 1499 to 1513 was patron of the Mi
lanese, bestowed great favours upon Lionardo, and in 1509
made him his painter; and Lionardo was then employing his
in architecture and painting in France. The French having
having returned into Italy in 1516, Francis I. induced Lionardo,
by' his favours, to follow him to France, where he died at the age
of 67, in 1519.
E 2

52 MEMOIRS OF
answer that he had heard nothing at all of the
matter : at this the King was highly offended, as
he had commanded the Cardinal to speak to him
about it. He at the same time desired me to go
to Paris, and look out for a proper house to work
at my business, telling me I should have it di
rectly. I received the five hundred gold crowns,
and repaired to Paris to a house of the Cardinal
of Ferrara's, where I began to work zealously,
and made four little models two thirds of a cubit
high, in wax, of Jupiter, Juno, Apollo, and
Vulcan. At this juncture the King coming to Paris, I
waited on his Majesty, and carried my models
with me, as likewise the two young men, Ascanio
and Paolo. When I perceived that the King was
pleased with my performance, and had ordered
me to make the silver Jupiter of the height above-
mentioned with all possible expedition, I informed
his majesty that I had brought those two young
men with me from Italy for his service, and as
they were my pupils, they were likely to be
of much greater use to me, who had instructed
them in the principles of my art, than any of the
working artists of Paris. The King, in answer to
this, desired me to settle on the two young men
such a salary, as should appear to me handsome
and sufficient to support them. I then told him,
that a hundred gold crowns a-piece would do,
and I would take care that they earned their sa
lary. So it was agreed. I then told the King

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 53
that I had found a place very proper for carrying
on my business. The place I meant belonged to
his Majesty, and was called the Petit Nesle* : it
was then in the, hands of the provost of Paris, to
whom his Majesty had granted it ; but as the
provost made no use of it, his Majesty might
give me leave to work in it for his service. The
King answered directly : " The place you mention
is a house of mine ; the person to whom I have
granted it does not inhabit or make any sort of
use of it : you may therefore take it for the pur
pose you mentioned." He thereupon ordered one
of his officers to put me in immediate possession
of the Nesle. The officer declined this at first,
telling the King that it was not in his power to
obey him. The King replied in a passion, that
he would give things to whomsoever he thought
proper, and to such men as were of use to him
*. The ancient palace of Nesle, situate on the left bank of
the Seine, formerly known in Paris under that name, then under
that of the Hotel de Nevers and of Guenegaud, and upon the
ruins of which were afterwards erected many public buildings,
among which are the Mint and the Mazarine College, now the
Palace of the Arts, — belonged originally to Amauri, Signor de
Nesle in Picardy, who in 1308 sold it to Philip IV. surnamed
Le Bel. Francis I., in 1522, assigned the Nesle to a constable
or judge, who was appointed by him to preserve the privileges
and- decide the causes of the University of Paris ; but four
years afterwards this office having been abolished by Francis I.
and the government of the University restored to the provost
of Paris, the Palace of Nesle indirectly became the property of
the University.

54 MEMOIRS OF
and served him ; for with regard to the provost,
he was of no use to him at all : he therefore de
sired to hear no more objections or demurs. The
officer rejoined, that it would be necessary to
have recourse to violence. The King then said,
" Go thither directly, and if a little force be not
sufficient, you must exert yourself." The officer
immediately conducted me to the place, and I
was obliged to proceed to violence, before I
could take possession of it : he then bade me take
care of myself, assuring me that my life was in
imminent danger. I entered my new habitation,
and immediately hired servants and purchased
different weapons. My situation there was very
uneasy during several days ; for my adversary was
a gentleman of Paris*, and many other gentlemen
were likewise my enemies, insomuch that I con
stantly received fresh insults. I must not omit
that his Majesty took me into his service in the
year of our Lord 1540, and I was then exactly
forty years old.t
* The provost of Paris from 1533 to 1547 was Jean d' Estou-
te ville, Sieur de Villebon and of many other places. He was
successively created Captain, Knight of the order of St, Michael,
chamberlain, counsellor of the King, and his lieutenant ge
neral in Normandy and Picardy. He died at Rome in 156S.
(See Anselmo and Felibien.) From the latter author arose the
error of signor Lottin in his Catalogo de' Libraj di Parigi, who
under the year 1540 says : " Provost of Paris, Antonio Duprat,"
whilst in fact he did not succeed Estouteville until 1547.
+ Cellini remained many months and probably all the summer
"I 1510 in Ferrara : he could not therefore have arrived at the

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 55
When I found myself liable to these daily
affronts, I again waited upon the King and re
quested him to place me somewhere else. The
answer he made me was : " Who are you, and
what is your name ? " At so strange a reception, I
was quite disheartened, and could not possibly
guess his Majesty's meaning : as I remained in
silent astonishment, he repeated his question a
second time. I then answered, that my name
was Benvenuto. The King said thereupon : " If
you are that same Benvenuto that has been de
scribed to me, act like yourself; I give you free
permission." I told his Majesty that it was suf
ficient for me to continue in his good graces, and
then it was impossible for any thing to hurt me.
The King replied with a smile : " Go your ways,
and depend upon it that my favour shall never be
wanting." Immediately upon this he ordered one of his
secretaries, whose name was Mons. de Villeroy,
to see me properly accommodated, and provided
Court of France before the autumn of the same year. Nor can
it be supposed that he had arrived there in the spring of 1541,
which, according to the Florentine mode of commencing the
year on the 25th of March, and still more according to the
French mode of commencing it at Easter, would then have be
longed to the year 1 540 ; for, according to this supposition, he
would not have found Alamanni there, who went to Ferrara
exactly in that season, assisted in the first representation of the
Orbecche of Giraldi, and returned to France with a letter of the
duke Ercole II. dated the 20th April 1541, mentioned by
Ribier.

56 MEMOIRS OF
with every thing necessary. This Villeroy * was
an intimate friend of the provost of Pans, in
whose possession the place called Nesle had been
for some time. It was a large old castle of a tri
angular form, contiguous to the walls of the city,
but had no garrison. Mons. de Villeroy advised
me to look out for some other building, and at all
events to leave that, for as the person to whom
Nesle had belonged was a man of great power,
he would certainly get me assassinated. To this
I made answer, that " I was come from Italy to
France for no other motive but to serve their
great monarch : with regard to dying I was sensi
ble that death is the common fate of all men, and
whether it happened a little sooner or a little
later, was a matter of perfect indifference to me."
This Villeroy was a man of excellent understand
ing, of most extraordinary qualifications and en
dowments, and exceedingly rich ; he would have
done any thing to hurt me, but artfully concealed
his malice : he had a grave deportment, a good
aspect, and spoke deliberately. On this occasion
he employed another gentleman, named Mons.
de Marniandef, who was treasurer of Languedoc.
The first thing that this person did was to look

•Nicolas de Neufville, Sieur de Villeroy, received by cession
from his father, who was also called Nicolas, the office of secre
tary of the finance in 1539 : he continued to fill the most dis
tinguished posts until an extreme old age, and died about 1508.
f The Sieur dc Mar»/ng«c was Francois L'Allcmant, who was
also made secretary to the King in 1531.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 57
out for the best apartments in the building, and
get them fitted up for himself. I told him that
the King had given me the place to work in for
his Majesty, and that I was resolved it should be
inhabited only by myself and my servants. Where
upon this man, who was proud and audacious, de
clared that he would do as he thought proper,
that contending with him would be the same
thing as running my head against a wall, and that
he had Villeroy's authority for all he did. I then
replied, that I claimed the place by the King's
authority, and that neither he nor Villeroy had
any right to act in that manner. When I had ex
pressed myself to this effect, the haughty trea
surer grossly abused me in French ; Whereupon I
told him in my own language that he was a liar.
At this he was incensed with rage, and by his
gestures seemed just going to draw his hanger. I
instantly clapped my hand to a large cutlass,
which I constantly wore by my side for my de
fence, and said to him : " If you offer to draw
that hanger, I will instantly kill you." He had
with him two servants, and I had my two ap
prentices. Whilst Mons. de Marmande remained
thus in suspense without determining upon any
thing and rather inclined to mischief than other
wise, he muttered to himself: " I will never put
up with this treatment." As I saw that he had
bad intentions, I determined directly what con
duct to pursue, and said to Paolo and Ascanio :
" As soon as you see me draw my cutlass, fall

58 MEMOIRS OF
upon those fellows and kill them if you can ; for I
will begin with destroying that villain, and then we
shall make our escape with the assistance of God."
When Mons. de Marmande perceived that I had
formed this resolution, he thought himself happy
in getting out of the place alive.
I wrote an account of all that had happened, in
the most modest terms I could think of, to the
Cardinal of Ferrara, who immediately acquainted
the King with the whole transaction: his Majesty,
highly provoked at this affair, put me under the
care of another of his worthless courtiers, who
was called Mons. d'Orbech. This gentleman pro
vided me with every thing necessary for my bu
siness, and that with the most complaisant offi-
ciousness.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 59

CHAPTER V.

The King employs our Author to make large silver statues of
Jupiter, Vulcan, and Mars — He presents his Majesty with a
fine bason and cup of silver, together with a salt-cellar of
the same metal of admirable workmanship — The King's
generosity defeated by the avarice of the Cardinal of Ferrara
— His Majesty, accompanied by Madame d'Estampes and
the whole Court, pay the author a visit — The King orders
a considerable sum of money to be given him — As he is
going home, he is attacked by four armed ruffians, whom he
repulses — Dispute between him and the French artists, whom
he makes sensible of their error.
As soon as I had made all the necessary prepa
rations in my house and shop, in the most conve
nient and most creditable manner, I began to make
three models exactly of the size that they were
to be executed in silver : these were Jupiter, Vul
can, and Mars. I made them of earth well sup
ported with iron, and then repaired to the King,
who, as nearly as I can recollect, ordered I should
have three hundred pounds of silver to enable
me to begin my work. Whilst 1 was making
these preparations, the cup and the golden bason

60 MEMOIRS OF
which had been several months in hand, were
finished: as soon as this was done, I got
them well gilt. This appeared to be the finest
piece of work that had ever been seen in France.
I carried it directly to the Cardinal of Ferrara,
who thanked me, and waited on the King to
make him a present of it. His Majesty was
highly pleased, and lavished greater praises upon
me than had ever been before bestowed upon
any artist. In return for this present, he gave the
Cardinal of Ferrara an abbey worth seven thou
sand crowns a-year ; at the same time he was for
making me a present, but the Cardinal prevented
him, telling his Majesty it was too soon, as I had
not yet finished any work for him. This confirmed
the King, who was one of the most generous of
men, in his resolution ; and he said, " For that
very reason I will encourage him to exert him
self, and make something masterly for me." The
Cardinal in the utmost confusion replied, " Sire,
I beg you would leave it to me, for I propose set
tling a pension of at least three hundred crowns
a-year upon him, as soon as I have taken posses
sion of my abbey." These I never received ; but
I should tire the reader's patience if I were to
relate all the diabolical tricks of that Cardinal : I
shall therefore proceed to subjects of greater
consequence. I returned to Paris, and being thus become a
favourite of the King, I was universally admired.
As soon as I received the silver which had been

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 61
promised me, I began to work at the above-
mentioned statue of Jupiter ; and took into my
service several journeymen. We worked day and
night with the utmost assiduity, insomuch, that
having finished Jupiter, Vulcan and Mars in
earth, and Jupiter being pretty forward in silver,
my shop began to make a grand shew. Just
about this time the King made his appearance at
Paris ; and I went to pay my respects to him.
When his Majesty saw me, he called to me in
high spirits, and asked me whether I had any
thing curious to shew him at my shop, for he in
tended to call there. I told him of all I had
done, and he expressed an earnest desire to see
my performances. After dinner he made a party,
consisting of Madame d'Estampes*, the Cardinal
* Francis I., previous to his imprisonment, was the admirer
of the Countess de Chateaubriant, who had the temerity to con
tend in magnificence and power with the Queen-mother herself,
Louise of Savoy. This princess, unwilling to endure such con
duct, on the return of her son from Spain, contrived to draw his
attention to Anne de Piseleu, one of her maids of honour,
who, by means of her beauty, her gracefulness, and her highly
cultivated talents, succeeded in making a great impression on
the mind of that monarch. Anne, thus become the favourite of
the King, and the arbitress of France, was not ungrateful to the
Queen Louise, to whom she always continued submissive ; and
she also acquired the friendship of the Queen of Navarre, sister
of Francis. In 1536, she married Jean de Brosse, to whom, in
consideration of the marriage, were restored the confiscated
estates, of his father, and who was also created duke d'Estampes.
This favourite, who was called the most beautiful amongst the
accomplished, and the most accomplished amongst the beautiful,

62 MEMOIRS OF
of Lorraine*, and some other great men, (as the
King of Navarre, cousin to King Francis,) and
the Queen his sister f; the Dauphin and Dau-

was a great patroness of literature and the arts, but was im
placable to those who had the imprudence to offend her. Mi
nisters, Generals, and even Sovereigns, did not hesitate to pay
her their homage ; and Charles V. himself did not neglect to
gain her over to his views, during his short abode at Paris. It
is said, that the duchess, in order to assure herself an asylum
in the Austrian States in case of her disgrace, revealed to
Charles V. secrets which afterwards cost France much blood.
However this might be, she always preserved her dominion over
the heart of Francis, and after his death was enabled to retire
in tranquillity to her estates, where, having survived her hus
band, and not having had children, she employed her riches in
converting proselytes to Calvinism, which she had embraced.
Here she died in obscurity and neglect, about the year 1576.
* This was Jean de Lorraine, son of duke Renato II. and
created Cardinal by Leo X. in 1518. Being a great favou
rite with the whole Court of Paris, and particularly with the
King Francis I. he was loaded with ecclesiastical benefices in
conformity with the usage of those times, and possessed as
many as thirteen bishopricks at the same time. He nevertheless
frequently found himself in difficulties, in consequence of his
excessive magnificence, and the princely liberality he shewed to
the virtuosi of every kind. He died in 1550. He was brother
of Claudio di Lorrain, founder of tlie family of the dukes of
Guise, and father of the celebrated Cardinal, Charles de Lor
raine. t Margaret de Valois, sister of Francis I. and widow of the
duke d'Alencon, was married to the King of Navarre in 1526.
She received the appellation of the Fourth Grace and die tenth
Muse— uniting to gracefulness of form and sweetness of cha
racter, a cultivated genius, and a decided inclination for every
species of literature. Being much attached to her brother,
from whom she could not bear to be absent, even durin" his

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 63
phiness* came likewise; in a word, that day all
the nobility belonging to the court of France re
paired to my shop.
confinement in Spain, she shared with him the glory of drawing to
his Court the sciences, the fine arts, and their most accomplished
professors ; but having, through her eagerness for every species
of knowledge, been desirous of listening to some German Pro
testants, she was, in some degree, seduced by their doctrines.
Into a family of princes exiled from their own kingdom in
consequence of papal excommunication, the Reformers would
naturally find too ready an admission. In fact, this Queen, her
husband, and more particularly their daughter Joan, were at
various times favourers of the Calvinistic heresy, which first
took refuge, and then was openly professed and confirmed by
public authority, in the States of Bern, about 1560, and was
therefore imbibed from his infancy by Henry IV. Margaret,
however, died a Catholic in 1549, at the age of fifty-seven years,
a few years before her husband, who also died a Catholic. She
left several works, which were published ; a theological tract
condemned by the Sorbonne in 1533 ; and many -comedies,
poetry, and novels, in imitation of Boccacio, in which there is
not, in truth, preserved that purity which had always rendered
the personal conduct of Margaret irreproachable.
* Catherine de' Medici, called by the French historians the
ornament and the scourge of France, was born in Florence, in
1519. She was daughter of Lorenzo, son of Piero de' Medici
and of Maddalena della Tour, a relation of Francis I. She
was the only legitimate descendant of Lorenzo the Magnificent,
and would have inherited the Florentine dominions, if Leo X.
and afterwards Clement VII. had not given the preference
to the illegitimate male children of that family. This princess,
who was reputed one of the most beautiful women of the age,
and was three times regent of France, carried the ambition and
political sagacity of her race to the highest pitch. Placed in
the midst of civil and religious factions, it was her sole aim to

64 MEMdRS OF
I had just got home, and was beginning to
work, when the King made his appearance at my
castle-gate : upon hearing the sound of so many
hammers, he commanded his retinue to be silent.
All my people were at work, so that the King
came upon us quite unexpectedly. As he entered
the saloon, the first object he perceived was my
self, with a large piece of plate in my hand,
which I had not yet placed, and which was to
make the body of Jupiter; another was employed
on the head, another again on the legs, so that
the shop resounded with the beating of hammers.
Whilst I was at work, as I had a little French
boy in the shop, who had some way or other
offended me, I gave him a kick which drove him
above four cubits forward towards the door, so that
when the King entered, the boy fell upon his per
son ; the good monarch laughed heartily, and I was
in the utmost confusion. His Majesty began to
ask me what I was about, and expressed a desire
that I should proceed with my work ; telling me
that he should be much better pleased if I would
never harass myself with my business, but take
as many men as I thought proper into my ser-
rule them, and to render them subservient to her own purposes.
Without being zealous for the Catholic religion, she was the
principal contriver ofthe celebrated massacre of 1572, which
commenced on St. Bartholomew's Day, and continued for seven
days throughout France, and in which perished more than forty
thousand Huguenots. She died at the age of seventy years, in
1589.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 65
vice, for it was his desire I should take care of
my health, that I might be the longer able to
serve him. I answered his Majesty, that if I
were to discontinue working I should not enjoy
my health, and that my performances would then
no longer be worthy of so great a prince. The
King, thinking that I said this through vanity,
and did not speak my real sentiments, ordered
the Cardinal of Lorraine to repeat to me what he
had himself proposed ; but I explained myself so
fully to the Cardmal, that he acquiesced in my
reasons, and advised his Majesty to let me act as
I thought proper.
The King, when he had taken a sufficient view
of my work, returned to his palace, after having
conferred so many favours on me, that it would
be tedious to enumerate them. The day following
he sent for me immediately after dinner : the
Cardinal of Ferrara was present, and dined with
him. I came just when they were at the second
course : his Majesty immediately began to talk to
me, saying that since he had so beautiful a cup and
bason of my making, he must have a handsome
«alt-cellar to accompany such fine things ; that
he wanted me to draw a design of one, and the
sooner the better. I answered that his Majesty
should see such a design much sooner than he ex
pected ; for that whilst I was employed about the
bason and the cup, I thought a salt-cellar would
be a necessary companion to them, and therefore
had already made one, which I should shew to his
VOL. II. F

66 MEMOIRS OF
majesty in a few moments. The monarch turned
about with great vivacity to the noblemen present,
to the King of Navarre, the Cardinal of Lorraine,
and the Cardinal of Ferrara, and said to them:
" This is so obliging a man, that whoever has
heard his character, would be desirous to know
him :" he then told me he would be glad to see
my design.
I went for it, and soon returned, for I had
nothing to do but cross the Seine*: I brought
with me a model of wax, which I had made
at Rome at the request of the Cardinal of
Ferrara. Upon shewing it to the King, he ex
pressed great surprise, and said, " This is a much
finer design than I expected ; it is a most noble
production ; such a genius should never be unem
ployed." He then turned to me, and said with
great cheerfulness, that he was highly pleased
with my model, and should be glad to have a
salt-cellar made according to it in gold. The
Cardinal of Ferrara winked at me, giving me to
understand, that he knew this to be the same mo
del I had made for him in Rome. I thereupon
repeated what I had before told him, that I had
made it for one who would pay for it. The Car
dinal recollecting these words was nettled, and
* Francis I. in 1540, inhabited the palace ofthe Louvre. It
had been the abode of Charles V. during his stay in France, and
besides the princes of the royal family, the King of Navarre,
Madame d'Estampes, the constable, the Cardinal de Tournon,
&c. resided there — See Sauval, T. 2. p. 49.

BENVKNUTO CELLINI. 67
had a mind to take his revenge : he therefore thus
addressed the King; " Sire, this is certainly a
great undertaking: I have only one objection to
make, namely, that I never expect to see it
finished ; for men of genius who have noble and
sublime ideas in their own art, are very ready to
engage in grand enterprises, without duly consi
dering when they can bring them to a conclusion ;
therefore, if I were to order works of such import
ance, I should be glad to know how soon they
could be executed." The King made answer, that
he who was so anxiously solicitous about the
finishing of works, would never begin any ; and
this he said in such a manner, as intimated that
he did not consider such undertakings as suitable
to men of narrow minds. I then said, " When
princes give their servants such noble encourage
ment, as your majesty does both by words and
deeds, they are sure of succeeding in all great
undertakings ; and since God has blessed me with
so munificent a patron, I flatter myself that I shall
be able to execute many great and admirable
works for your majesty." " I do not doubt but
you will," answered the King, rising from table.
He sent for me to his apartment, and asked me
how much gold the making of the salt-cellar
would require. I immediately answered him, a
thousand crowns. The King called for his trea
surer, Mons. d'Orbech, and commanded him to
give me directly a thousand old gold crowns, good
weight. F.2

68 MEMOIRS OF
I quitted his Majesty and sent for the two
clerks, who had caused the money to be given me
for the statue of Jupiter and many other things;
and having crossed the Seine, I took with me a
little basket, which I had from a nun, a cousin-
german of mine, in a convent at Florence ; by
good luck I took this basket, and not a wallet. I
thought to do the business by day, as it was then
early, and did not care to disturb my journeymen,
nor did I even mind to take a servant with me.
I came to the treasurer's house, who had the mo
ney ready before him, and had chosen the pieces
according to the directions of the monarch. It
appeared to me that the villain had recourse to all
the little artifices and stratagems he could think
of, to delay paying me the money till late at night.
I was by no means wanting in diligence, but sent
for some of my journeymen to come to me about
business of the utmost consequence. When I
found that they did not appear, I asked the mes
senger whether he had obeyed my orders : the
scoundrel told me that he had, and that they an
swered him they could not come ; but he would
carry the money for me with pleasure : I replied
that I chose to carry it myself. In the mean
time the writing was drawn up, and the money
being brought, I put it all into the basket, then
thrust my arm through the two handles ; as it en
tered with great difficulty, the money was well
secured, and I carried it with much greater ease
than if I had made use of a bag. I was armed

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 69
with a coat of mail, and having my sword and
dagger by my side, I set out directly for my own
house. Just then I took notice of some of the
servants who were whispering to one another:
but they soon quitted the house, and seemed to
turn down quite a different street from that which
I had entered. I, being in great haste, passed the
bridge ofthe Change, and went up by a little wall
in the marshes, which carried me to my own
house at Nesle.
When I was just at the Augustins, a very dan
gerous place, though within five hundred paces
of my own house, where, if I had attempted to call
out, my voice would not have been heard by any
body, I suddenly found four swords drawn against
me. I quickly formed my resolution, and co
vering my basket with my cloak, I clapped my
hand to my sword, and perceiving that they were
eager to surround me, I told them there was no
thing to be won from a soldier but his cloak
and sword : these I was resolved not to resign
tamely, but to defend them at the risk of my
life. Whilst I bravely opposed the villains, I
several times opened my arms wide, that in case
they had been set on by the servants who saw
me receive the money, they might have some
reason to think I could not have any such sum
about me. The combat did not last long, for
they began gradually to retire. Some of them
said in French, " This Italian is a brave fellow ;
he certainly cannot be the person we wanted,

70 MEMOIRS OF
and even if he be the man, he has no money
about him." I spoke Italian, and dealt my blows
with such dexterity, that I was near killing some
of them. As I appeared to be an excellent swords
man, they thought it most likely, that I was a
soldier ; so they crowded close together, and gra
dually drew off from me, muttering all the while
in their own language. I at the same time con
tinued to say coolly, and without any sort of rho-
domontade, that he who wanted to possess him
self of my arms and cloak, must purchase them
dearly. I began to mend my pace, and they
followed me slowly; my fear thereupon increased,
and I was filled with apprehensions of falling
into an ambush of other villains who might sur
round me. But when I got within a hundred
paces of my own house, I mended my pace as fast
as I could, and cried out with a loud voice, "Help,
help, or I am assassinated." Immediately four of
my young men sallied out with long pikes, and
offered to pursue the fellows that had attacked
me and were still in sight ; but I stopped them,
saying aloud, " Those four cowardly dogs have
not been able to take from a single man a booty
of a thousand gold crowns, the weight of which
has almost broken his arm; let us therefore first
go and lay them up, and then I will attend you
with my great two-handed sword wherever you
will." While we were putting up the money, the
young men expressed great concern for the dan
ger I had been exposed to, and said to me in a

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 71
reprimanding tone, " You have too much confi
dence in your own courage, which will bring you
one day into some scrape, and make us all lament
your unhappy fate." I had a long chat with
them, and they told me that my adversaries were
gone off; so we all supped cheerfully, and were
very merry, making a jest of the various turns
and changes of fortune, which, whether prospe
rous or adverse, can affect us but for a time. I
own it is a common saying, that every reverse of
fortune teaches us how to behave on another oc
casion ; but that is not true, as the circumstances
which attend each event are different, and such
as could not be foreseen.
The next morning I began the great salt-cellar,
and caused that and other works to be forwarded
with the utmost expedition. I had by this time
provided myself with several journeymen, as
well for sculpture as for the goldsmith's busi
ness : these journeymen were Italians, French,
and Germans, and sometimes I had a consider
able number of them. When I happened to meet
with able artificers (for I almost every day
changed them, taking into my shop such as were
most expert and skilful), I hurried them in such
a manner, that unable to bear the constant labour
as I did, who had received a happy constitution
from nature, they endeavoured to restore and
keep up their spirits by eating and drinking. Some
of , the Germans who were more skilful and ex
perienced than the rest, strove to keep pace with

72 MEMOIRS OF
me, but could not bear the fatigue ; so that the
attempt cost them their lives. Whilst I went on
with the silver statue of Jupiter, seeing that I
had plenty of that metal, over and above what
the statue required, I without the King's know
ledge set about making a large silver vessel with
two handles, about a cubit and half high. I had
likewise a fancy to cast in bronze the grand mo
del which I had made for the silver Jupiter. I
immediately began this arduous undertaking,
which was of a nature that I had never attempted
before ; and having entered into a conversation
upon the subject with some of the old experienced
artists of Paris, I mentioned to them all the me
thods used in Italy to bring such a work to bear.
They told me that they had never made use of
that process, but that if I would let them take
their own way, they would cast me the model
of bronze as fine and as exact as the earthen one.
I chose to make a bargain upon employing them;
and thinking their demand moderate, promised
them several crowns more than they asked.
They set about the work, but I soon perceived
that they did not take the right method : I therefore
began a head of Julius Ctesar, the breast covered
with armour, much bigger than the life, which
I took from a little model I had brought with
me from Rome, representing an antique head
of admirable workmanship. I likewise began
another head of the same size, which was the
likeness of a fine girl of my acquaintance. I

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 73
gave her the name of Fontainbleau, from the
seat which the King had chosen for his favourite
residence. Having made a proper furnace to
melt the bronze, and arranged and baked our
figures, they their Jupiter, and I my two heads, I
said to them, " It is my opinion that your Jupiter
will not come out, as you have not blown enough
under it for the wind to play, so that you labour
in vain." To this they answered, that in case
their work did not succeed, they would return
me the money and make good all my expenses ;
but they at the same time maintained that the
fine heads which I wanted to cast in the Italian
manner, would never succeed according to my
expectation. There were present at this dispute
the treasurers and other gentlemen wh"1 came to
me from the King, and who related to his Ma
jesty all that was said and done upon the occa
sion. The two old artists, who proposed casting
the model of Jupiter, occasioned some delay in
the preparations for that purpose : they said they
would gladly adjust the two moulds of my heads,
it being impossible that they could succeed ac
cording to my process, and it would be a thou
sand pities that two such fine pieces should be
spoiled. As they had informed his Majesty of
this, he desired they would endeavour to learn,
and not take upon them to teach a person who
was a master of the business. They with great
laughter and merriment put their work into the
mould ; and I without any sort of emotion, without

74 MEMOIRS OF
either laughing or discovering any uneasiness, put
my two heads on each side of the figure of
Jupiter. When our metal was thoroughly melted,
we poured it out with great satisfaction : the
mould of Jupiter was thereupon cleverly filled, as
were likewise those of my two heads at the same
time. The two old artists were highly rejoiced,
while 1 was very well pleased with my success;
in short it was an equal triumph to us both that
we had been mistaken with regard to our opinion
of each other's performance. They then were in
high spirits, and desired to drink, according to the
French practice; which I granted, and readily en
tertained them with a collation. The next thing
they asked me for was the money I had agreed
to give them, and what I had promised them over
and above. I answered, " You have been very
merry, whereas I suspect you should have been
sad ; fori have taken it into consideration that there
has been a greater consumption of metal upon
this work than should have been, so that I am de
termined not to let you have any more money till
to-morrow morning." The poor men began to re
flect seriously on this speech of mine, and with
out making any answer returned home. When
they came again in the morning, they without
any stir began to take the figures out of the
moulds ; and because they could not get at their
own great figure, without first taking out my two
heads, they did so accordingly, and placed them in
suehVk manner that they appeared to the utmost
advantage. Soon after they set up so loud a cry,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 75
that I thought it was a shout of joy, and imme
diately ran to the workshop from my own cham
ber, which was at a considerable distance. I
found them exactly in the attitude of those who
guarded Christ's sepulchre, in sorrow and as
tonishment. I cast my eyes upon the two heads,
and seeing that they made a very good appearance,
I was partly pleased and partly vexed, while they
excused themselves by saying, "We have been
unfortunate." I answered. " You have been very
fortunate, but you have shewn little skill : if I
had but instructed you with a single word, the
figure would have come out admirably, which
would have been greatly to my honour and your
advantage ; but as to my honour I can easily find
an excuse, you for your parts will gain neither
honour nor profit : therefore another time learn to
work, and not to banter and make sport of others."
They begged I would take compassion upon
them, acknowledging that I was in the right, and
that if I did not shew them indulgence, in not
obliging them to make good all that great ex
pense, they must be reduced to beggary as well
as their families. My answer was, that should
the King's treasurers compel them to pay what
they had agreed, I would pay it for them, for I saw
that they had done their best. By acting in this
manner 1 greatly conciliated the good graces of
the King's treasurers and ministers. A full ac
count of the whole affair was given to his majesty,
who was so generous as to order that I should be
satisfied in all my demands.

76 MEMOIRS OF

CHAPTER VI.

The Author obtains a grant of naturalization, motu proprio, from
the King, and is made lord of the house he resides at, called
Petit Nesle — The King pays him another visit accompanied
by Madame d'Estampes, and orders him to commence su
perb ornaments for the fountain at Fontainbleau — In obe
dience to the King's commands he makes two beautiful mo
dels of the ornaments for the fountain, and shews them to his
Majesty — Description of those ornaments — Remarkable con
versation between him and the King upon this occasion —
Madame d'Estampes is offended with the Author for not
taking notice of her in any of his designs — To recover her
favour he waits upon her, intending to make her a present of
a fine vase of silver, but is refused admittance— He presents
it to the Cardinal of Lorraine, who behaves most generously
to him — He involves himself in a scrape by turning out of his
house a favourite servant of Madame d'Estampes, who had
taken up his quarters there for some time — Madame d'Es
tampes endeavours to alienate the King from him, but the
Dauphin interposes in his favour.
Just at this time arrived at court the great
Piero Strozzi*, who having put the King in mind
* Piero Strozzi, son of Filippo, of whom mention has already
been made, had at first entered into the ecclesiastical career, and
had been many times flattered by Clement VII. with the ex-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 77
of his letters of naturalization, his Majesty gave
orders that they should be made out directly. He
at the same time said, " Prepare letters of natu
ralization for Benvenuto likewise, carry them to
his house, and let him pay no fee whatever."
Those of the great Piero cost him several hundred
ducats ; mine were brought me by one of the
King's first secretaries, whose name was M. An
thony Masson*. This gentleman put the letters
into my hands with many expressions of kindness
from the King, and said, " His Majesty makes
pectation of a Cardinal's hat, the only dignity wanting to his
powerful family ; but finding his hopes of attaining this object
defeated by the jealousy which had already begun to display it
self between the Medici and the Strozzi, he betook himself to
the profession of arms, and being cousin-german of Catherine
de' Medici, entered into the service of the French in Piedmont,
where he distinguished himself in 1536, in battle, as a colonel
under the count Guido Rangoni. In the following year, the
duke Cosmo having been just raised to the government of Flo
rence, Piero Strozzi placed himself at the head of the banished
Florentines, who were desirous of making a last attempt to re
establish the ancient form of government in their country ; but
having advanced with too much temerity, and being obliged to
engage with a smaller force than that of his adversary, he was
completely defeated at Montemurlo, where his father remained a
prisoner. In spite of so many misfortunes, Piero does not ap
pear to have abandoned Italy immediately, but to have lived for
some years in retirement at Rome and Venice.
* Antonio le Macon was the private secretary of the Queen
of Navarre. He was the author of a romance entitled " Gli Amori
di Fidia e di Gelasina," and was the first person who translated
into the French language the Decameron of Boccacio, which he
did at the instance of his patroness.

78 MEMOIRS OF
you a present of these to encourage you to serve
him with the greater zeal ; they are letters of na
turalization." He at the same time told me that
letters of the like nature had been granted with
much solicitation, and as a great favour, to Piero
Strozzi ; but that the King gave me these of his
own accord — a mark of distinction which had
never been shewn before to any foreigner in that
kingdom. I returned my roval benefactor thanks
with all possible demonstrations of gratitude, and
requested the secretary to inform me, what those
letters of naturalization meant. The secretary
was a very polite, well-bred man, who spoke Ita
lian incomparably well: he first laughed heartily,
and then resuming his gravity, told me in my own
language the meaning of letters of naturalization,
that it was the highest honour that could be con
ferred on a foreigner, and something of much
greater consequence than being made a Venetian
gentleman. Having quitted me and returned to
the King, he related to his majesty all that had
passed between us : the monarch laughed a good
while, and said, " He shall know presently why
I sent him the letters of naturalization. Go and
make out his patent of lord of the castle of Nesle,
which is a part of my demesne : he will under
stand this much more easily than he did the
letters of naturalization." A messenger came to
me from the King with the above patent, and I
was for giving him a gratification, but he refused
it, telling me that he had his Majesty's express

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 79
orders to the contrary. The above-mentioned
letters of naturalization, together with those of
the grant of the castle, I took with me, when I
returned to Italy ; and wsherever I reside, or
wherever I am to finish, my days, I shall always
endeavour to have them with me.
I now resume the thread of my narrative.
Having upon my hands the works of which I
have already spoken, I mean the silver Jupiter,
which was begun, the golden salt-cellar, the great
silver vase, and the two heads of bronze, I pro
ceeded with expedition, and gave orders to have
a base cast for the statue of Jupiter. This I caused
to be made very magnificently of bronze, enriched
with a variety of ornaments, amongst which I
carved in basso rilievo, the Rape of Ganymedjg,
and on the other, side, Leda with her Swan : the
latter I cast in lironze, and it 'had surprising
success. I made another of the same sort, in
tending to place upon it the statue of Juno,
expecting soon to begin that likewise, if the King
furnished me with silver for such an undertaking.
Continuing to work with the utmost assiduity, I
had already completed the > silver Jupiter, and
had also cast the golden salt-cellar; the cup was
very forward, and the two heads of bronze were
finished. I had likewise executed several little
pieces for the Cardinal of Ferrara, and moreover,
a small silver vase of very rich workmanship,
which I designed as a present to Madame d'Es
tampes. At the same time, I had done some works

80 MEMOIRS OF
for several Italian noblemen, as for signor Piero
Strozzi, the count d'Anguillara, the count of Piti-
gliano, the count of Mirandola*, and many others.
* The city of Mirandola, about the beginning of the 14th
century, passed from the government of the Modenese to that of
the family of Pico, which had for two centuries been the masters
of the neighbouring territory of Quarantoli, and after many
vicissitudes in the year 1499, fell into the possession of Gio.
Francesco Pico, nephew of the celebrated Giovanni Pico. This
prince, whose great piety and learning are sufficiently testi
fied by his numerous works, as well as by the eulogy pro
nounced upon him by Tiraboschi, not having been able to satisfy
his younger brothers in the division of their paternal inheritance,
unfortunately became exposed to the most terrible reverses. In
1502, he was expelled by his brother Luigi, who had obtained
assistance from Gian Giacomo Trivulzi, his father-in-law, at that
time general of all the French troops in Italy; and although he
recovered possession of Mirandola in 1511, by means of Julius
IL, who took it by assault in person, and himself entered at the
breach, yet he was compelled in the following year to abandon it
anew to the French, in consequence of the celebrated victory ob
tained by them at Ravenna.
Two years afterwards, the French power having declined in
Italy, Gio. Francesco, for the third time, regained possession of
Mirandola, and his brothers being dead, retained it, and passed
his time in the midst of his studies, when Galeotto Pico, the son
of Luigi, having attained the age of 25 years, in the night ofthe
15th October, 1533, entered into Mirandola with 40 assassins,
killed his uncle, then at the age of 63 years, together with his
eldest son, imprisoned the rest of the family, and declared him
self sovereign. Charles V. deeply resented tliis act, and Gale
otto, finding himself inManger of losing his sovereignty and his
life, in 1536 threw himself under the protection of Francis I.,
delivered his sons to him as hostages, and became reduced to a
situation little more than that of a French general in Italy. In

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 81
When I was pretty forward with these works
for my gracious monarch, he returned to Paris,
and three days after came to my house, with a
number of the chief nobility of his court. They
all expressed great surprise at my being so for
ward with so many performances ; and as madame
d'Estampes was with him, they began to talk of
Fontainbleau. The lady observed to his Majesty,
that he should order me to make some fine orna
ment for his favourite residence. The King in
stantly answered, "What you say is very just; I

consequence of these events, the count Galeotto frequently
visited France, where he obtained many possessions and honours,
and according to P. Pozzetti, who has inserted a minute account
of his life in his Lettere Mirandolesi, he went to France, for the
third time, in January 1541, and remained there until the fol
lowing summer. On this occasion, it is very likely that Galeotto
employed Cellini in some work ; unless it may be supposed that
he received his commands from Italy, or (which is perhaps more
probable) that he was employed for the sons of Galeotto, whilst
they were retained as hostages in France, although Ludovico,
the eldest son, was in 1543 only 15 years of age. We find from
Cellini himself, that the count Galeotto was in France in 1545,
since he mentions his return along with him to Italy, a journey
of which P. Pozzetti makes no mention.
Galeotto returned for the last time to Paris in 1550, where he
died in the arms of his children. The fief of Mirandola conti
nued in the possession of his descendants, and was erected into
a duchy in 1619. But the duke Francesco Maria Pico, having
in the war of 1 704 embraced the French cause, was deprived of
his duchy by the sentence of the Emperor Joseph I., and it was
sold to the duke of Modena in 1711. The family of Pico
became extinct a short time afterwards in Madrid.
VOL. II. G

82 MEMOIRS OF
will presently determine upon something hand
some for him to execute:" then turning to me, he
asked me, what I thought would be a proper
ornament for that charming fountain. I proposed
some of my fancies ; his Majesty likewise told his
opinion: he mentioned at the same time, that he
intended going to take his pleasure, for fifteen or
twenty days, at St. Germain-en- Laye, which was
twelve leagues distant from Paris, desiring that I
would in the mean while make a model for his
seat at Fontainbleau, with the finest inventions I
could think of, that being the most delightful
place of recreation in his whole kingdom. He
concluded with ordering me to exert my utmost
efforts to produce something masterly: I pro
mised to do my best. The King, seeing such a
number of works so far advanced, said to madame
d'Estampes, " I never knew a man in his way
that pleased me more, or that deserved to be
more encouraged : we must endeavour to keep
him here : he spends a great deal of money ; is a
good companion, and works hard. I am, indeed,
under a necessity of thinking of him myself, for
in all the times that he has been with me, or that
I have been here, he has never asked any thing;
his mind seems to be entirely taken up with his
business. I must confer some favour on the man,
for fear of losing him." Madame d'Estampes
replied, " I will take care to put you in mind."
They went away, and I proceeded with the
utmost expedition in the works I had begun; at

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 83
the same time I set about the model of a fountain,
and used all dispatch in bringing it to perfection.
In about six weeks, the King returned to Paris,
and I, who had worked night and day, waited on
his Majesty with my model: the figures were so
elegantly executed, that it was a very^easy matter
to understand the design. The fatal disputes be
tween the King of France and the Emperor being
already renewed, I found him very pensive; and
therefore addressed myself to the Cardinal of Fer
rara, telling him, that I had brought some models
which the King had employed me to make ; and I
requested him to take the first opportunity of
mentioning them to his Majesty, as I was inclined
to think they would afford him pleasure. The
Cardinal complied with my request, and spoke of
the models to the King, who quickly repaired to
the place where I kept them.
First of all I had designed the palace gate of
Fontainbleau ; and made as little alteration as
possible in the form of it, which, according to
the whimsical taste of the French, seemed to be
an odd mixture of greatness and littleness ; for
its form was almost square, with a semicircle
over it bent like the handle of a basket, in which
the King was desirous of having a figure to
represent Fontainbleau. I gave a beautiful pro
portion to the gate, and over it I put an exact
semicircle, with some agreeable projection on
each side : instead of two pillars, which the order
g 2

84 MEMOIRS OF
of architecture seemed to require for their sup
port, I placed two satyrs: one of these, some
thing above half-relief, appeared to sustain with
one arm that part of the pile which touched
the columns ; in the other it held a large massive
club ; the countenance was so stern and fierce as
to strike terror into the beholders: the other
satyr had the same attitude, but differed from
the former in the head, and some other parts ; it
held in its hand a whip, with three balls fastened
to certain chains. Though I call these figures
satyrs, they had nothing in common with those
sylvan gods but certain little horns and heads,
resembling that of a goat : in all other respects
they were ofthe human form. In the same circle I
represented a female figure in a reclining attitude,
with her left arm upon the neck of a hart, which
was a device of the King's : on one side of her
I designed in half-relief, little goats, boars, and
other wild beasts ; and on the other, in stronger
relief, greyhounds, and other dogs of different
sorts, such as are to be seen in the delightful
wood where the fountain rises. I drew the whole
plan in an oblong form, and at each corner I de
signed a victory in basso-rilievo, holding little
torches in their hands, as they are represented
by the ancients. On the top I placed the figure
of a salamander, the King's own emblem*, with
* Upon all the buildings erected by Francis I. as well as
upon some of his coins, is represented the Salamander in the

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 85
several other ornaments pleasing to the eye, and
adapted to the nature of the work, which was of
the Ionic order.
The sight of this model raised the King's spirits,
and diverted him from that disagreeable conver
sation in which he had been engaged above two
hours. Finding him in this good humour, I
shewed him two other models, which he little
expected, for he imagined he had seen ingenuity
enough in the first. This model was above two
cubits in size : it represented a fountain in the
form of a complete square, with fine steps round
it, which intersected each other — a thing almost
unexampled in any country whatever. In the
midst of this fountain I placed a solid mass, which
rose a little above its brim : upon this mass stood
a naked "figure of a most graceful shape. It had a
broken lance in its right hand, raised aloft in the
air, and the left it kept upon the handle of a
cimetar, the form of which was exceedingly
beautiful. It rested upon the left foot and
held the right upon the crest of a helmet, the
workmanship of which was the richest and most
elegant that could be conceived. At the four
sides of the fountain, I had designed a high
raised figure, seated, with many pretty devices
and ornaments to each. The King began to in
terrogate me about the fancy of this elegant work,
fire with the Italian motto : Nutrisco et extinguo. The duke
Charles d'Angouleme, his father, also used the same device, with
the motto : Nutrisco il buono e spengo il reo.

86 MEMOIRS OF
telling me, that he had himself understood my
whole plan of the gate, without asking a single
question ; but as for my present design, though
it appeared to him exceedingly beautiful, he could
not so much as form a conjecture concerning its
meaning. He added, that he was very sure I
had not acted like some foolish artists, who
produced works which had some beauty and
elegance in them, but which were notwithstand
ing void of signification.
As I had had the good fortune to please his Ma
jesty by my performance, I prepared to give him
a second pleasure by my explanation of it, which
was couched in the following words : " May it
please your Majesty, this little work was designed
on a small scale, but when it is carried into exe
cution, there will be the same symmetry and
exactness in great, as in miniature. That figure
in the middle is of fifty-four feet." At this the
King appeared to be greatly surprised. " Next,"
continued I, " is represented the god Mars : those
other four figures are made for the Virtues, in
which your Majesty so highly delights, and which
you so much favour. The figure upon the right-
hand is the emblem of Science : observe its sym
bol, that denotes philosophy with all its train of
attendant virtues. That other signifies the art of
designing, which comprises sculpture, painting,
and architecture. That next figure represents
Music, a proper companion for all the other
sciences. This, which appears so kind and cour-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 87
teous, is intended for Liberality, since without her
aid none of those virtues or talents given us by
the Almighty, can ever become conspicuous.
The great statue in the middle represents your
Majesty, who are the Mars of this age, the only
valiant prince in the world, a prince who exerts
that valour in supporting and asserting the glory
of his crown."
Scarce had he the patience to hear me out,
when he exclaimed aloud, " I have at last found
a man after my own heart." He immediately
sent for his treasurer, and ordered him to supply
me with whatever I required, however great the
expense. He then clapped me on the shoulder,
and said to me in French, " Mon ami, I do not
know which pleasure is the greatest, that of a
prince who meets with a man after his own heart,
or that of the artist who finds a prince that gives
him all the encouragement necessary to carry his
great and sublime ideas into execution." I made
answer, that if I was the artist meant by his Ma
jesty, the happiness was entirely on my side. He
answered laughing, " Let us then reckon it equal
on both sides*."
I left the monarch in high spirits, and returned

* It is said in the " Arte di verificar le date," in speaking of
Francis I. Ce prince avoit une fagon singulihrede temmgner son re-
froidissement . Aussiiot qu'il traitoit quelqu'un de Pere, de Fils,
ou d'Ami, ce mot etoit le precurseur de la disgrace. If this be true,
it must be owned that Cellini was an exception to this rule.

gg MEMOIRS OF
to my work. It happened unluckily for me, that
I had not been apprised to act the same farce with
madame d'Estampes, who having in the evening
heard all that passed, from the King himself, con
ceived so deep a resentment at the neglect, that
she said with the utmost indignation : " If Ben
venuto had shewn me his fine works, I should
have had reason to remember him at the proper
time." The King endeavoured to excuse me, but
without success. Having received this informa
tion about a fortnight after, when the court, after
making a tour through Normandy to Rouen and
Dieppe*, was returned to St. Germain-en-Laye,
I took with me the fine piece of plate which I
had wrought at the desire of madame d'Estampes
herself, in hopes that, by making her a present of
it, I might recover her good graces. Accordingly
I carried it to her, and having mentioned my
intention to her waiting-woman, shewed her the
cup which I proposed presenting to her lady. She
received me in the kindest manner imaginable,
and said she would just speak a word to Madame
d'Estampes, who was not yet dressed, but that
as soon as ever she had apprised her of my com
ing, she would introduce me. Upon acquainting
* In the work entitled " Inventaire de I'Histoire de Norman
die," it is said, that Francis 1. was much attached to the climate
of this province, and loved to reside there ; and that he sometimes
passed the entire summer there in the chase. He also frequently
visited the fortress of Havre de Grace, u hieh was erected by him.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 89
her lady with my arrival, and the present I had
brought, the latter answered disdainfully, " Tell
him to wait." Having heard this, I armed myself
with patience, and continued in suspense till she
was going to dinner. Perceiving that it grew late,
hunger provoked me to such a degree, that unable
to resist its cravings any longer, I gave the lady a
hearty curse, and going directly to the Cardinal
of Lorraine, made him a present of the cup, beg
ging he would stand my friend with the King, and
prevent me from being deprived of his good
graces. He made answer, that I did not want a
friend at court, and in case I did, he would have
espoused my cause without being solicited ; then
calling to his steward, he whispered something in
his ear.
The steward, having waited till I had quitted
the Cardinal's presence, said to me, " Benvenuto,
come this way, and I will treat you with a bottle
of good wine." As I was not well aware of his
meaning, I made answer, " For God's sake, good
Mr. Steward, do but give me a single glass of
wine, and a bit of bread, for I am ready to sink
for want of sustenance. I have waited fasting
since the morning early at madame d'Estampes'
door, with an intention to make her a present of
that fine gilt cup ; and when I sent her word that
I was there, she, to drive me to distraction, or
dered me to be told to wait. At present hunger
attacks me, and I find my powers begin to fail ;
so, as it was God's will, I have bestowed my pro-

90 MEMOIRS OF
perty and my work on one that deserved it much
better, and all I desire of you is to give me some
thing to eat ; as I am of a temper rather impatient,
and hunger pinches me to such a degree that I
am almost ready to faint." Whilst I uttered
these words with great difficulty, a servant brought
in some excellent wine and other delicacies for a
collation. I refreshed myself very well, and hav
ing recruited my spirits thoroughly, my peevish
ness and impatience subsided. The worthy stew
ard having put into my hands a hundred gold
crowns, I declined accepting them on any ac
count. Upon this he went and told the Cardinal,
who reprimanded him very severely, and com
manded him to force them upon me, or not appear
again in his presence. The steward came back
highly offended, declaring that the Cardinal had
never rated him so before : he then endeavoured
to persuade me to accept of his master's bounty ;
and upon my making some resistance, he said in
a passion, that he would compel me to take the
money. I at length accepted it, and proposed
going to return the Cardinal thanks ; but he gave
me to understand by one of his secretaries, that
whenever he had it in his power to befriend me,
he should do it with pleasure.
I returned to Paris the same evening: the
King was informed of all that had passed, and
madame d'Estampes was very much rallied upon
the occasion ; but this only increased her resent
ment against ine, whence my life was afterwards

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 91
in danger, as the reader shall be informed in due
time. I should, however, first take notice of my
having acquired the friendship of one of the most
learned and most amiable acquaintances that I
ever had in my life. This was signor Guido
Guidi, an excellent physician, and eminent citi
zen of Florence. On account of the calamities
in which adverse fortune had involved me, I de
ferred speaking of him before, but I thought that
neglect excusable, as he was always next my
heart. Having afterwards taken it into consi
deration that my life was never agreeable with
out him, 1 have inserted an account of him
amidst that of my greatest crosses, that as he
constantly comforted and assisted me, I may in
this narrative dwell upon the remembrance of the
happiness I enjoyed in his friendship. Signor
Guido Guidi* came to Paris while I resided in
* Guido Guidi went to France a short time previous to the
year 1542. He was in that year created first professor of me
dicine in the Royal College, and tutor to Francis I. according to
the " Storia dell' Anatomia" of Portal, and a letter from Tolomei
to him, dated May in the same year. Fabbrucci suspects that
Guidi owed his good fortune to Luigi Alamanni : however this
may be, it is certain that he was deserving of it. He remained
at the court of France until the death of Francis I. from whom,
in addition to the employments already mentioned, he received
the nomination to some rich ecclesiastical benefices. He was
recalled, in 1548, to his native country, by the duke Cosmo,
who appointed him his head physician, and made him professor
at Pisa. Being a priest, he was afterwards appointed by the

92 MEMOIRS OF
that capital. Upon our first acquaintance I con
ducted him to my castle, and assigned him an
apartment in it, so that we enjoyed each other's
company several years. Thither also came the
bishop of Pavia, monsignor de Rossi, brother to
the count of St. Secondo. I made this prelate
leave his inn, and took him with me to my cas
tle, where I gave him an apartment, in which
he was handsomely accommodated, with all his
retinue, during several months. Upon another
occasion I accommodated signor Luigi Alamanni
and his sons for some months ; and the Almighty
was so favourable to me as to put it into my
power to serve some other persons of distinction,
and men of genius.
I enjoyed the friendship of signor Guido as
many years as I resided at the castle, and we
often boasted to each other that we had ac
quired some improvement in our respective pro
fessions at the expense of the great and munifi
cent King who had invited us to his capital. I
can say with truth, that if I have any reputa
tion, or have ever produced works deserving of
notice, it was owing to the encouragement of
that generous monarch. I therefore resume the
thread of my narrative concerning him, and the
same duke Piovano of Leghorn; and in 1562 provost of the
celebrated church of Pescia. He composed many works of con
siderable repute, and died in 1569. He is called Guido Guidi
the elder, to distinguish him from Guido Guidi his nephew, *
physician also, and a man of letters.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 93
great works in which I was employed by his
Majesty. My castle had a tennis-court, from
which I derived great benefit ; at the same time
that I used it for exercise, there were many ha
bitations in it, occupied by several men of dif
ferent trades, amongst whom there was an ex
cellent printer. Almost his whole shop was
within the precincts of my castle, and it was he
that first printed the excellent medical treatise
published by signor Guido. As I had occasion
for the shop, I made him quit it, but not without
some difficulty. There was likewise in the same
place a person who made gunpowder. I wanted
the habitation he occupied, for some of my Ger
man artists, but the powder-maker would upon no
account dislodge, though I several times civilly
desired him to let me have the apartment, which
was really necessary for some of my men em
ployed in the King's service. The more humble
my remonstrances, the more insolently the brute
answered me. At last I allowed him three days
to remove ; but he laughed and told me that he
would begin to think of it in about three years.
I did not know at first that this fellow was a
domestic of madame d'Estampes ; and if it had
not been that the above affair between that lady
and myself had made me particularly cautious,
I should instantly have dislodged him ; but I
thought it advisable to have patience for the three
days : these being expired, I took with me seve
ral armed men, Germans, Italians, and French, as

94 MEMOIRS OF
likewise some menial servants, who in a short
time cleared the house and threw all he had in it
into the streets. I treated him with this particu
lar rigour, because he had told me that he did not
think any Italian had the courage to move the
least thing belonging to him out of its place. In
consequence of his having made such a boast, I
behaved to him in that manner; and then said
to him, " I am the least of all the Italians, but I
have done nothing to you yet, in comparison of
what I find myself disposed to do, and what I
certainly shall perform if you speak another
word," with many more angry and menacing ex
pressions. The man, in the utmost terror and
astonishment, gathered up his effects as well as he
could, apd ran to madame d'Estampes, to whom
he gave a most terrible account of the whole
transaction. That grand enemy of mine, an enemy
the more dangerous in proportion to her greater
influence and credit, represented the affair in the
worst light to his majesty. The monarch, as I
have been informed, flew into a violent passion,
and was upon the point of giving very severe
orders against me ; but as his son Henry the dau
phin, now King of France, had received many
affronts from that presumptuous lady, which had
been also the case of the Queen of Navarre, sister
to King Francis, they both espoused my cause so
warmly, that the King turned the whole affair
mto ridicule ; so that with the assistance of the
Almighty, I had a fair escape at this critical
juncture.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 95

CHAPTER VII.

Madame d'Estampes encourages Primaticcio, otherwise called
Bologna, the painter, to torment and rival the Author — He is
entangled in a troublesome law-suit by a person whom he had
turned out of his apartments at Petit Nesle — Description of
the French courts of justice — The Author, finding himself
very much persecuted and distressed by the chicanery and
delays of the law, puts an end to the suit by the sword,
which greatly intimidates his adversaries — His domestic
troubles. After I had thus got rid of my Frenchman, I
found myself obliged to proceed in the same
manner with another tradesman, but did not de
molish the house ; I only caused the goods to be
thrown out of the window. This provoked ma
dame d'Estampes so highly, that she said to the
King, " I believe this outrageous fellow will one
day ransack the city of Paris." The King an
swered, in a passion, that I did very right in
ridding myself of a rabble which would have
prevented me from executing his orders. The
fury of this cruel woman rising every day to a
higher pitch, she sent for a certain painter, who

96 MEMOIRS OF
lived occasionally at Fontainbleau, the King's
place of residence. This painter was an Italian
and a native of Bologna, by which name he was
universally known, but his real name was Fran
cesco Primaticcio. Madame d'Estampes bade
him apply to the King for the work which he had
resolved to put into my hands, and said she would
second him to the utmost of her power : this was
agreed upon between them. Bologna was highly
rejoiced, looking upon himself as sure of success,
though the business was quite out of the sphere
of his profession. But as he was master of the
art of designing, and had agreed with certain
workmen who had learned their business under
Rosso, our celebrated painter of Florence, who
must be acknowledged to have been a man of
great genius ; and as Primaticcio himself, in
whatever he had produced of any degree of merit,
had followed the excellent manner of that Rosso*,
* Rosso put an end to his existence by poison in 1541, as we
have previously mentioned. He left many pupils of considerable
repute.viz. Domenico del Barbieri, Lucca Penni, Lorenzo Naldini,
Bartolomeo Miniati, Francesco Caccianimici, Gio. Battista da
Bagnocavallo, Francesco d'Orleans, Simone da Parigi, Lorenzo
Picardo, Lionardo Fiammingo, and many others, as appears by
Vasari. But Primaticcio is deservedly considered the chief of
them. He had rendered himself eminent under Giulio Romano
previous to his visiting France, whither he was dispatched by
the duke of Mantua himself, who had been applied to by Fran
cis I. to send him an architect for the erection of the palace of
Fontainbleau. It is true that Primaticcio must yield in compa
rison with Rosso ; hut Cellini here appears to do him injustice,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 97
who was at this time no more ; these very plau
sible reasons had such weight, being backed by
Madame d'Estampes, and conspiring with the
continual dinning in the King's ears day and night,
either by Primaticcio or the lady, that this great
prince at last began to listen to their suggestions
They said to him, " How is it possible that
your sacred Majesty, while employing Benvenuto
to make you twelve statues of silver, of which
he has not yet finished one, can think of en
gaging him in so great an undertaking? You
must resolve to give up the other plans which you
are so much bent upon, because a hundred men
of first-rate talents would be unable to finish all
the great works which this one enterprising
genius has taken in hand. It is obvious at the
same time, that he exerts himself too much, and
is indefatigable in the business, which, may very
probably be the cause of your losing , both him
in treating him as a mere novice, particularly as compared with
himself, and as an architect.
Primaticcio's visit to France appears, according to Vasari, to
have been in 1531, at which time Rosso was not there; but ac
cording to Bartolomeo Galiotti it was in 1539. However this
may be, Rosso and Primaticcio were the first to introduce into
France the best style of painting in fresco. Primaticcio also ex
celled in working in stucco, and made designs for many public
buildings. He was appointed commissary-general of all the
King's palaces, abbot of St. Martin at Troyes, and canon of
the holy chapel at Paris. He lived at Court, cultivating and
protecting the fine arts, until 1570, in which year he died, at
the age of 80 years.
VOL. II. II

98 MEMOIRS OF
and the works he is employed in." These and
many other arguments of the like sort, by being
urged at a proper time, produced their effect
upon the mind of the King, so that he complied
with their . desires ; and yet he had not hitherto
seen any designs or models by Primaticcio.
Just at this very juncture, the second person
whom I had driven out of the precincts of my
castle, had commenced a law-suit against me at
Paris, affirming that I had robbed him of several
of his effects at the time that I dislodged him.
This suit occasioned me a great deal of trouble,
and took up so much of my time, that I was fre
quently upon the point of forming a desperate
resolution to quit the kingdom. It is customary
in France to make the most of a suit which they
commence with a foreigner, or with any other
person who is not used to law-transactions ; as
soon as they have any advantage in the process,
they find means to sell it to certain persons who
make a trade of buying law-suits. There is
another villainous practice which is general with
the Normans, I mean that of bearing false wit
ness ; so that those who purchase the suit, im
mediately instruct five or six of these witnesses,
as there happens to be occasion : by such means,
if their adversary cannot produce an equal num
ber to contradict and destroy their evidence, and
happens to be ignorant of the custom of the
country, he is sure to have a decree given against
him. Both these accidents having happened to

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 99
me, I thought the proceeding highly dishonour
able. I therefore made my appearance in the
great hall of the Palais at Paris, in order to plead
my own cause ; where I saw the King's lieute
nant for civil affairs, seated upon a grand tribu
nal. This man was tall, corpulent, and had a
most austere countenance : on one side he was
surrounded by a multitude of people ; and on
the other with numbers of attorneys and counsel
lors, all ranged in order upon the right and left ;
others came one by one, and severally opened
their causes before the judge. I observed that the
counsellors who stood on one side, sometimes
spoke all together. To my great surprise, this
extraordinary magistrate, with the true coun
tenance of a Pluto, seemed by his attitude to
listen now to one, now to another, and constantly
answered with the utmost propriety. As I always
took great pleasure in seeing and contemplating
the efforts of genius, of what nature soever, this
appeared to me so wonderful, that I would not
have missed seeing it for any consideration. As
the hall was of a prodigious extent, and filled
with a great multitude of persons, particular care
was taken that none should enter but such as
came about business; so the door was kept
locked, and the avenues were guarded by door
keepers : these men, in opposing those who were
for forcing in, sometimes made such a noise, that
the judge reprimanded them very severely. I
stooped down several times to observe what
h 2

100 MEMOIRS OF
passed: the words which I heard the judge utter,
upon seeing two gentlemen who wanted to hear
the trial, and whom the porter was endeavouring
to keep out, were these, " Be quiet, be quiet,
Satan, get hence, and leave off disturbing us."
The terms in French were, Paix, paix, Satan, allez,
paix. As I had by this time thoroughly learnt
the French language, upon hearing these words,
I recollected what Dante said, when he with his
master, Virgil, entered the gates of hell : for
Dante and Giotto the painter were together in
France *, and visited Paris with particular atten-
* Giovanni and Filippo Villani, Boccaccio, Gio. Mario Filelfo,
and Benvenuto da lmola, all attest the fact of Dante's visit to
Paris. Filelfo pretends that he went thither as orator of the
Florentine Republic, previous to his exile, which was in 1302.
Others, placing this journey some years afterwards, suppose
that it was undertaken by him for the sole purpose of with
drawing his mind from his misfortunes, by studying in the Uni
versity of Paris, where, according to Boccaccio, he supported a
public disputation upon various theological questions.
It is equally certain that Giotto (called Ambrogiotto) di Bon-
done visited France, being conducted thither by Pope Cle
ment V. in 1308, and that he remained there until 1316. It is
uncertain whether this celebrated restorer of the art of painting
was at Paris, and particularly whether he was there alon^ with
Dante. The journey of Dante and Giotto together to France is pro
bably a mere supposition of Cellini, who was well aware of the
intimate ties of esteem and friendship which united those great
men. It is well known that Giotto, in one of his first public
labours, that of the painting in fresco, in the Chapel del Podestfc
at Florence, introduced the portrait of Dante ; and that the latter

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 101
tion, where the court of justice may be con
sidered as hell. Hence it is that Dante, who was
likewise perfect master of the French, made use
of that expression ; and I have often been sur
prised, that it was never understood in that
sense ; so that I cannot help thinking, that the
commentators on this author have often made
him say things which he never so much as
dreamed of.
To return to my suit : I found that when ver
dicts were given against me, and there was no
redress to be expected from the law, I must have
recourse to a long sword, which I had by me, for
I was always particularly careful to be provided
with good arms. The first that I attacked was
the person who commenced that unjust and vexa
tious suit; and one evening I gave him so many
wounds upon the legs* and arms, taking care
however not to kill him, that I deprived him of
the use of both his legs. 1 then fell upon the
other, who had bought the cause, and treated him
in such a manner, as quickly caused a stop to be
put to the proceedings : for this and every other
success, I returned thanks to the Supreme Being,
and began to conceive hopes that I should be for
some time unmolested. I earnestly entreated my
young journeymen, especially the Italians, to be
in his compositions, never ceased to furnish subjects for the
pencil of his friend, and to supply him with ideas to assist his
invention. Dante went to reside with the family of Giotto in
Padua, when the latter was employed in painting in that city.

102 MEMOIRS OF
attentive to their business, and to work hard for
a time, till I could finish the works I had under
taken ; for I proposed to return to Italy as soon
as ever they were completed, not being able any
longer to bear the villainy of the French ; at the
same time seriously considering, that if the mo
narch should once happen to be angry with me, I
might probably meet with severe treatment for
having revenged myself in the manner I had
done. These Italian journeymen were as follow. The
first and highest in my favour was Ascanio, born
in the kingdom of Naples, at a place called Tag-
liacozzo ; the second was Paolo, a Roman, a per
son of mean birth, who did not so much as know
his own father : these two I had brought from
Rome, where they had lived with me. The third
was likewise a Roman, who came from Italy, on
purpose to enter into my service : his name was
also Paolo, and he was son to a poor Roman gen
tleman of the Maccherani family. This young
man had made but little proficiency in the busi
ness ; but he was brave, and an excellent swords
man. The fourth journeyman was a native of Fer
rara, whose name was Bartolommeo Chioccia.
The fifth was a Florentine, named Paolo Micceri,
who had a brother, surnamed Gatta, a very able
clerk, but guilty of extravagance when he ma
naged the business for Tommaso Guadagni, a
rich merchant ; he afterwards kept my books,
which contained my accounts with his most

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 103
Christian Majesty, and others by whom I was
employed. Paolo Micceri, having learnt his bro
ther's method of book-keeping, continued to fol
low it, and I allowed him a good salary ; he ap
peared to me to be a very pious youth, and dis
covered a great turn to devotion, sometimes sing
ing psalms, sometimes telling his beads, so that I
conceived great hopes from such an appearance
of virtue. I therefore called him aside, and spoke
to him thus : " My dear friend Paolo, you see
how happily you are settled with me, and may
remember you were before out of business : you
are a Florentine, which makes me confide in you ;
and what gives me high satisfaction, is to see you
so devout, and so regular in all acts of religion.
I therefore, putting more trust in you than in the
others, make it my request to you, that you
would give your attention to two things, in which
I am in a particular manner concerned : one is,
that you would carefully watch over my property,
and be always upon your guard to prevent any
body from meddling with it, as likewise that you
avoid touching it yourself. At the same time you
see the poor girl Caterina, whom I keep in the
house chiefly on account of my business, and
without whom it would be impossible for me to
conduct it. Now I have particular reasons for
wishing that she should be extremely circumspect
in her conduct ; therefore I desire you to watch
her attentively, and inform me of any improprie
ties you may observe." This hypocritical fellow

104 MEMOIRS OF
undertook what I requested, with such solemn
assurances of fidelity and devotion to my interest,
that I was induced to place implicit confidence
in him. Nevertheless, he very soon betrayed
me ; and having unquestionable evidence of his
guilt as well as Caterina's, and of her mother's
connivance, I drove them all from my house.
They then invented a horrible accusation against
me, which, according to the laws of France, en
dangered my life ; but their detestable conspi
racy failed, and my innocence was clearly esta
blished. I afterwards compelled Paolo to marry
Caterina, thinking this infamous couple well
suited to each other.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 105

CHAPTER VIII.

Open rupture between Cellini and Primaticcio the painter, the
latter having, at the instigation of Madame d'Estampes, un
dertaken to execute some of the designs of the former — Pri
maticcio is intimidated by the Author's menaces, and gives up
the point- — Cellini waits upon the King with a salt-cellar
of the most exquisite workmanship — Birth of his daughter
Constantia — The King again visits the Author, and finding
the silver statues in great forwardness, orders him a con
siderable sum of money, of which he is deprived, as be
fore, by the Cardinal of Ferrara — His Majesty discovering
how the author had been wronged, orders his minister to give
him the first abbey that becomes vacant.
When once adverse fortune, or the influence
of our ill stars, if that ' expression seems more
proper, begins to persecute a man, it is never at
a loss for means to distress him. When I thought
I had got clear of one troublesome and dangerous
affair, and flattered myself that my evil genius
would leave me at rest for a while ; I was in
volved again in most perplexing difficulties, and
in the space of a few days two accidents befel

106 MEMOIRS OF
me, by both of which I was in the most immi
nent danger of my life. This happened as fol
lows : I was obliged to go to Fontainbleau to
wait upon the King, who had written me a letter,
desiring me to undertake to stamp the coins for
his whole kingdom : in the letter he had inclosed
some little designs, the better to explain his mind,
but at the same time he left me at liberty to follow
the dictates of my genius.
In compliance with his Majesty's orders, I had
drawn new designs, in my own taste, and with
the utmost elegance of art. Upon my arrival at
Fontainbleau, one of the King's treasurers, who
had received orders to provide me with whatever
I wanted, and whose name was Monsieur de la
Faye, said to me: " Benvenuto, the Bolognese
painter has been ordered by the King to make
your colossal statue ; and all the other great
works which had been put into your hands, his
Majesty has now taken from you, and given to
him : we were all very sorry for it, and think
that this countryman of yours has acted very pre
sumptuously, and behaved extremely ill to you ;
for you had been entrusted with the works on
account of the excellence of your models, and
your masterly performance; but this man has
supplanted you, merely through the interest of
madame d'Estampes: it is now several months
since he undertook those works, and he has not
yet so much as begun a stroke." Hearing this,
1 exclaimed with surprise, " How is it possible I

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 107
should never have heard a word of all this ?" He
answered me, that Primaticcio had kept the
affair as secret as possible, and obtained his re
quest with the utmost difficulty, the King being
very unwilling to grant it ; but that madame
d'Estampes had been so earnest in her solicita
tions, as to extort, in some measure, his com
pliance. Finding myself so cruelly wronged, so un
justly treated, and deprived of a work which was
due to me in consideration of the pains I had
taken, I resolved to perform some signal feat of
arms, and went with the most eager haste in
quest of signor Primaticcio. I found him in his
chamber, quite absorbed in study ; he bade me
come in, and with some awkward civilities asked
me what was the best news, and what had
brought me thither : I answered, an affair of the
last importance. He thereupon ordered his ser
vants to bring wine, and said, " Before we talk
about business we must drink together, for that
is the custom here in France." " I must inform
you," replied I, "signor Francesco, that there
is no occasion for the conversation, which is to
pass between us, to be ushered in with drinking :
that perhaps may come afterwards." I then con
tinued thus : " All those who profess themselves
to be men of worth and virtue, shew by their
actions that they are such ; and when they behave
otherwise, they can no longer be considered in
that light. I am sensible that you were, not ig-

108 MEMOIRS OF
norant of the King's having employed me to make
the Colossus, which has been talked of these
eighteen months, and neither you nor any body
else said any thing about it during that time : I
had by my labours made myself known to that
great prince, who was so pleased with my models
as to commit this grand undertaking to me, and
for many months I heard nothing of his having a
different intention : it was not until this morning
that I heard it was given to you, and that you had
basely undermined me, though I was entitled to
the work by my elegant performances, and you
have no other claim but mere boasting and
vanity." " My friend Benvenuto," answered
Primaticcio, " Every man endeavours to do the
best he can for himself; and if it be the King's
pleasure, what objection can you make ? Say
what you will, you will only lose your labour in
talking against the grant ; it has been made to me,
and cannot be disputed : now speak as much as
you please, and I will listen to you in my turn."
I thereupon replied to him thus: " I have a great
deal to say to you, signor Francesco, and could
by many strong and convincing arguments make
you confess, that such methods of acting and
reasoning as yours are not customary amongst
rational animals ; but I will be brief, and come
directly to the point : listen attentively, for what
I am going to say is of great consequence."' He
was ready to rise from his seat, seeing that I
changed colour, and discovered great symptoms

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 109
of emotion ; but I told him it was not yet time
for him to stir, and bade him sit still and attend to
what I had to say. I then proceeded thus . " Sig
nor Francesco, you know very well that the
work was at first put into my hands, and that
according to the practice of the world, it was no
longer a proper time for any other person to apply
for it: I now declare to you, that I am willing,
you should make a model, and I will make a new
one ; we then will carry them both to our great
monarch, and he who upon that occasion acquits
himself best, shall be looked upon as entitled to
the honour of making the Colossus. If it should
happen to be your lot, I will lay aside all resent
ment of the injury you have done me, and bless
your hands as more worthy than mine of so great
an honour. Let us therefore make this agree
ment, and we shall be friends; otherwise we
must be enemies ; and God, who always assists
the just cause, and I his instrument, will find
means to convince you of your error." Signor
Francesco answered, " The work is mine ; and
since it has been given me, I do not choose to
run any farther risk." To this I replied : " Sig
nor Francesco, since you will not accept of the
alternative proposed, which is both just and rea
sonable, I will offer another to you, which will
resemble your own proceeding in its harshness
and deformity. I must tell you plainly, that if
I ever hear you mention a word of this work of
mine, I will kill you as I would a mad dog ; and

110 MEMOIRS OF
as we are now neither in Rome, Florence, Naples,
nor Bologna, and the manner of living in this
country is quite different, if I ever hear you drop
but a word about it to the King, I will instantly
put you to death without mercy : think therefore
seriously which proposal you choose to accept,
the first or the last; by one you may live, by the
other there must be an end of your existence."
The man was at a loss what to say, or how to
act, and I was almost preparing to put my de
sign instantly in execution, rather than defer it
to some other occasion. The Bolognese said
nothing farther than this, " So long as I behave
like a man of honour and principle, I shall be
free from all fear and apprehensions." To this I
replied, " What you say is very just ; but when
you act in a contrary manner, you have reason
to be afraid : remember my words." I there
upon instantly left him to wait on the King, and
had a long conference with his Majesty concern
ing the coins, in which we could not agree ; for
his privy council being there present, persuaded
him that money should still be coined in the same
manner as it always had been before that time in
France. I answered, that his Majesty had in
vited me from Italy to work for him, so as to
deserve approbation ; and even if he should give
me contrary directions, and command me to
work ill, I could never find it in my heart to obey
him. Farther conversation upon the subject was

BENVENUTO CELLINI. Ill
deferred to another opportunity, and I returned
to Paris.
The next day, Primaticcio came to Paris,
and sent Mattio del Nasaro for me: I waited
upon him accordingly, when he begged I would
consider him in the light of a brother, and de
clared he would not mention a word concerning
the great work to the King, as he was sensible
that I must be in the right.
Whilst I was going on with this work, I set
apart certain hours of the day to continue the salt
cellar, about which several hands had been em
ployed, for I could not otherwise conveniently
work upon the statue of Jupiter. About the time
that I had completely finished it, the King was re
turned to Paris : I paid him a visit, carrying the
salt-cellar with me, which, as I have observed
above, was of an oval figure, and in size about two
thirds of a cubit, being entirely of gold, and ad
mirably engraved by the chisel. Agreeably to
the account already given of the model, I had re
presented the sea and the earth both in a sitting
posture, the legs of one placed between those of
the other, as certain arms of the sea enter the
land, and certain necks of land jut out into the sea ;
the manner in which I designed them was as fol
lows. I put a trident into the right hand ofthe
figure that represented the sea, and in the left a
bark of exquisite workmanship, which was to hold
the salt : under this figure were its four sea-horses,

1 12 MEMOIRS OF
the form of which in the breast and fore feet re
sembled that of a horse, and all the hind part from
the middle, that of a fish ; the fish's tails were en
twined with each other in a manner very pleasing
to the eye, and the whole group was placed in a
striking attitude. This figure was surrounded by
a variety of fishes of different species, and other
sea-animals. The undulation of the water was
properly exhibited, and likewise enamelled with
its true colours. The earth I represented by a
beautiful female figure holding a cornucopia in
her hand, entirely naked, like the other male
figure; in her left hand she held a little temple, the
architecture of the Ionic order, and the workman
ship very nice ; this was intended to put the pep
per in. Under this female figure, I exhibited
most of the finest animals, which the earth pro
duces ; and the rocks I partly enamelled, and
partly left in gold. T then fixed the work on a
base of black ebony of a proper thickness ; and
there I placed four golden figures in more than
mezzo rilievo : these were intended to represent
Night and Day, and there was one likewise
for Evening, and another for the Morning.
There were also four other figures of the four
principal winds, of the same size, the workman
ship and enamel of which were elegant to the last
degree. When I shewed the King this piece of work,
he burst into an exclamation of surprise, and could
never sufficiently admire it ; he then bade me carry

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 113
it home, telling me he would soon let me know
what to do with it.
Having taken it back, I immediately invited
several of my most intimate friends to dinner,
and put the salt-cellar upon the table : thus we
were the very first to make use of it, and spent
the day very cheerfully. After this I continued
to work upon the statue of Jupiter, and the great
silver vase already mentioned, on which were
engraved several pretty mottos, with a variety of
different figures.
About this time the Bolognese told the King,
that it would be proper for his majesty to send
him to Rome, and give him letters of recommen
dation, that he might take designs of the first-rate
antiques of that city, the Laocoon*, the Cleo-
* This group, justly denominated by connoisseurs the miracle
of the arts, was the work of three sculptors at Rhodes, probably
of one family, though at what period exactly is not known. It
was transported to Rome about the beginning of the vulgar sera.
In the time of Pliny, it stood in the baths of Titus, upon the Es-
quiline Hill, but in the terrible vicissitudes which followed, and
which overthrew, as it were, from its foundation, that capital of
the world, it remained buried in ruins, and was not again re
stored to light until the more favourable times of Julius II. when
it was fortunately discovered by one Felice de Fredis, and
placed by that Pontiff in the court-yard of the Vatican, which
was then an orange garden, and deservedly called the garden
of Belvedere. It was afterwards placed in the museum of Pius
Clementinus, and thence was transported to Paris, in 1797, and.
deposited in the Museum Napoleon.
VOL. II. I

1 14 MEMOIRS OF
patra*, theVenusf, the CommodusJ, theApollo§,
and the Zingara || ; which are indeed the finest
* This statue, which was in Parian marble, was purchased by
Julius II. It represents Ariadne abandoned by Theseus in Nas-
sus, at the moment when she is overcome by sleep, and a short
time before the arrival of Bacchus. It was once supposed to re
present Cleopatra perishing under the bite of the asp, because
it bears a bracelet in form of a serpent, but the learned signor En-
nio Quirino Visconti exposed this error, and the inanimate figure
of the asp is now no less universally acknowledged than the life
and evident sleep of Ariadne. This beautiful piece of workman
ship stood on the border of a fountain, in the garden of Belvedere,
and underwent the fate of the Laocoon.
t This Venus, which was a greater object of admiration in
Rome in the times of Cellini, than it has been since the disco
very of the Venus de' Medici and the Capitoline Venus, is seen
standing naked, and apparently just ascended from the bath.
She extends the hand towards a napkin to dry herself. This sta
tue then stood in the garden before-mentioned of Pope Julius,
and was afterwards placed in the museum of Pius Clementinus
where it remains at present. It is, according to the signor Vis
conti, a copy of the famous Venus of Cnidus, the chef-d'oeuvre
of Praxiteles.
X This is the Hercules with the lion's skin, and a child in his
arms. It is particularly admired for the beauty of the head, which
was long thought to have represented Commodus under the cha
racter of that god : but Winckelman has demonstrated the physio
gnomy to be ideal, and to represent no other than Hercules with
the infant Ajax Telamon ; although others believe it to be his own
son Telephus. This statue, which was discovered in the time of
Julius II. was placed near the Laocoon, and followed its fate.
§ The Apollo Pizio, commonly called the Belvedere, and the
most beautiful and sublime of the ancient statues, represents that
God, at the moment when he has struck the serpent Python with
|| For this Note, see next page.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. ]15
things in Rome. He at the same time told the
monarch that his majesty by seeing^those admir
able masterpieces, would be able to form a judg
ment of the art of drawing ; for all the works of
modern artists that had been shewn him, were in
finitely inferior to the masterly performances of
the ancients . The King approved of his proposal,
and gave him all the encouragement he desired.
So the fool went off in this manner, and, not having
the spirit to rival me, had recourse to this artifice
worthy of a Lombard, of pretending to praise the
works of the ancients in order to depreciate
his spear. It is not known of whose workmanship it is, nor to
what age it belongs. It was discovered about the end of the
fifteenth century, in the ruins of Antium, and was at first placed
in the house of Julius II. then in the gardens of the Vatican, and
afterwards in the Museum Napoleon.
|| An ancient statue of white marble, with the head, hands, and
feet, of bronze, has long been famous under the name of Zingara or
Zingarella. From the injuries which its beautiful garments have
sustained by length of time, it has been supposed to be clothed
in ragged apparel, and to represent a female in the act of divina
tion. It is now, however, with more reason considered to be in
tended for a Diana, robed, as it still preserves the belt to which
probably was attached the quiver, and that the mutilated parts
have been restored in bronze, in more modern times. It stood in
the Villa Pinciana, and was carried away, with the whole of the
Museum Borghesi to Paris, in 1 808 *. (See the Collection of Sta
tues of Paolo Alessandro Maffei, and the beautiful Description of
the Borghesi Statues, by the signor Car. Luigi Lamberti.)
* On the restoration of the Bourbons these works were returned to Italy.
i 2

1 16 MEMOIRS OF
mine ; but though he took excellent drawings of
them, his success proved quite the reverse of
what he had flattered himself it would, as we
shall inform the reader in due time.*
Having entirely discontinued my connexion
with that wretch Catharine, and the poor unfor
tunate young man who had conspired with her to
wrong me being gone from Paris, I intended to
have my ornament for Fontainbleau, which was
of bronze, properly cleaned, as likewise to get the
two figures of Victory, which extended from the
* Vasari, Malvasia, Davila, Felibien, Mazzuchelli, Tiraboschi,
and Milizia, in speaking of Primaticcio and Vignola, assert that
the former was dispatched by Francis I. between the years 1537
and 1541, and whilst Rosso was still living, to Rome, to pur
chase some ancient marbles for him, and to obtain copies of the
heads of the statues above-mentioned. Malvasia also, on the au
thority of Vidriani, adds, that Rosso himself had been induced
by the jealousy he felt at the applause obtained by Primaticcio
at the court of France, to procure this commission for him in
order to effect his absence, and that Rosso destroyed himself
for no other reason, than the mortification he experienced at
finding Primaticcio his rival, in France, which was particularly
the case in January 1540, on occasion of the preparations for
the reception of Charles V. in Paris.- — This supposition would in
a great measure remove the imputation of malignity here attri
buted by Cellini to Primaticcio. But Bottari, in a note to Va
sari, citing this passage, shews this mission of Primaticcio to
Rome to have taken place in 1543, and to be therefore incon
sistent with these accusations against Rosso. Without, however,
deciding upon these disputes, which are dishonourable both to
the arts and to artists, it must be observed, that the authority of
Cellini appears little decisive on this point.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 117
side angles to the middle circle of the gate, fur
bished up. For this purpose I took into my house
a poor girl about fifteen years of age : she was ex
tremely well-shaped, lively, and of a complexion
rather swarthy ; and as she was somewhat rustic,
spoke little, walked fast, and had a sort of wild
ness in her eyes, I gave her the name of Scoz-
zona ; but her own name was Gianna. With her
assistance, I completely finished my Fontainbleau
and the two Victories intended for ornaments to
the gate. By this Gianna I had a daughter, on
the seventh of June, at three in the afternoon, in
the year 1544, when I was precisely in the forty-
fourth year of my age. I gave this child the
name of Constantia, and she was held upon the
font by signor Guido Guidi, physician to the
King, and one of my most intimate friends. He
alone stood godfather ; for the custom of France
is, that there should be but one godfather and two
godmothers. One of these was signora Madda
lena, wife to signor Luigi Alamanni, a gentleman
of Florence, and an admirable poet * ; the other
godmother was a French lady of good family,
wife of signor Riocardo del Bene, also citizen of
* According to P. Anselmo, Luigi Alamanni was maitre d'h6-
tel to Catherine de' Medici. His wife Maddalena Buonajuti, by
some called Elena, by a mistake arising from the diminutive
Lena, was keeper of the jewels, or dame d'atour ofthe same Prin
cess. Her second husband was Gio. Battista de' Goudi, a Floren
tine, also employed in the court of France : he died about 1580,
at the age of fifty-six. Varchi, Corbinelli, Niccolo Martelli, and
Mazzuchelli, speak of this lady.

118 MEMOIRS OF
Florence, and an eminent merchant. This was
the first child that I ever had, to the best of my
remembrance. I assigned the mother such a
maintenance, as satisfied an aunt of her's, into
whose hands I put her; and never had any ac
quaintance with her afterwards.
I continued my works with all possible expe
dition, and by this time they were in great for
wardness ; the Jupiter was as good as finished,
so was the vase, and the gate began to display its
beauties. Just at this time the King arrived at
Paris; and though I have spoken of the birth of
my daughter as having happened in 1544, at
the time now under consideration the year 1543
was not quite elapsed. This was owing to my
having occasion to speak of my daughter : how
ever, to avoid interrupting the relation of affairs
of greater importance, I shall drop the subject
at present, and resume it in its proper place.
The King came to Paris as I have said already,
and immediately repaired to my house, where
my works were in such forwardness that they
gave great satisfaction to the eye : the monarch
was as much pleased with them, as an artist could
wish who had bestowed great pains on his pro
ductions. He recollected of himself that the
Cardinal of Ferrara had given me none of the
money that he had promised me : so, talking in
a low voice to his admiral, he said that the Car
dinal of Ferrara had done very wrong in not
paying me; but that he himself would see justice

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 119
done me ; for he perceived that I was a man of
few words, and would leave the kingdom, if I
were not satisfied. Without adding a word more,
they withdrew, and the King after dinner bade the
Cardinal tell the treasurer to pay me, with all
possible expedition, seven thousand gold crowns
at three or four disbursements, according as he
found it convenient, and not to fail at his peril.
He then concluded with these words, " I had
put Benvenuto under your care, and you have
quite forgotten him." The Cardinal assured the
King, that he would punctually obey his orders ;
but the natural malignity of his temper made
him stay till the monarch's fit of generosity and
good-nature was over.
In the mean time France was threatened more
and more with the calamities of war, and the
Emperor with a numerous army seemed to be
upon the point of marching to Paris. The Car
dinal, perceiving that money was very scarce in
the kingdom, took occasion one day to speak of
me to the King in these terms ; " I thought it
best not to give Benvenuto the money your Ma
jesty ordered him; and one of my reasons was,
that you now stand but too much in need of it
yourself; the other, that so generous a present
would have deprived us of him the sooner, for if
once he had found himself .rich, he would have
purchased an estate in Italy, and when the whim
took him would certainly have left you. So I have
considered with myself that it is most advisable

120 MEMOIRS OF
your majesty should assign him some settlement
in your own dominions, if you desire that he
should continue any considerable time in your
service." The King seemed to approve of what
was said : however, with a greatness of soul
worthy of such a monarch, he took it into con
sideration that the Cardinal had acted as he had
done, rather to gratify his own temper, than be
cause he had so long before had the sagacity to
foresee the distressed state of so great a kingdom.
Thus, though the King appeared to assent out
wardly to the reasons assigned by the Cardinal,
his private sentiments were very different ; for
he soon returned to Paris, and the day after his
arrival, came of his own accord to my house,
when I conducted him through several apart
ments, in which there was a variety of works of
different sorts.
Beginning with those of least value, I shewed
him several pieces of bronze, which surpassed
any thing of the kind he had ever beheld. I then
led him to the silver Jupiter, and he was pleased
to find it almost finished, with all its beautiful
ornaments. This indeed he admired much more
than any other man would have done, on account
of an unlucky accident which had happened to
him a few years before, when the Emperor, in
tending an expedition against the town of Tunis,
passed through Paris with the consent of the
French monarch. Francis, being desirous of
making Charles a present worthy of so great an

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 121
Emperor, caused a silver Hercules to be cast for
that purpose, exactly of the same size with my
Jupiter. This Hercules was a most ordinary
piece of work; and when the King found fault
with it, the artists whom he had employed, and
who pretended to be the greatest masters in the
whole world, maintained that nothing more com
plete could be made of silver, insisting Upon two
thousand ducats for their bungling piece of work.
For this reason, when his majesty saw my per
formance, he was surprised at the admirable
finish of it, which he could never have conceived.
To such a degree was he pleased with my statue
of Jupiter, that he valued it at two thousand
crowns, and said, " Those ignorant artists re
ceived no recompense from me : for this I will
give a thousand crowns, and it is well worth the
money." I then carried his majesty to see some
other performances, both in silver and gold, arid
many other models of new works. At last when
he was upon the point of departing, I conducted
him through the Castle-garden, where I shewed
him my statue of the great giant.
The King discovered the greatest astonishment
imaginable, and turning about, spoke thus to the
admiral, who was Mons. d'Annebaut*: "Since
* Claude d'Annebaut, one of the greatest favourites of
Francis I., with whom he had been made prisoner at Pavia, was
created marshal in 1538 ; and after the disgrace of the constable
Anne de Montmorency, which happened in March 1541, was
entrusted with the administration of the finance ; and finally, on

122 MEMOIRS OF
the Cardinal has not yet supplied this man with
money, and the latter is so backward to ask it, I
must without more delay take care to provide for
him myself; for when artists are too modest to
ask any recompense, their works seem suffici
ently to claim it. Therefore give him the first
abbey that becomes vacant, the revenue of which
amounts to two thousand crowns a-year, and in
case you cannot let him have it in one benefice,
give it him in two or three : it will be the same
thing to him." I was present, heard all that was
said, and immediately returned thanks to his
majesty, as if I had the abbey already in my
possession ; telling him, that I intended when
that work was finished, to serve his majesty
without any other reward, salary, or recompense
for my labour, till old age should render me inca
pable of working, when I might be allowed to
retire to necessary repose, happy in the remem
brance of having served so great a monarch. To
this the King with great alacrity answered, " So
be it;" and left me in high spirits.
the 5th February, 1548, was created admiral of France. His
military talents and his valour have placed Annebaut amongst
the most distinguished captains of his time ; but what did him
the most honour, was the probity and disinterestedness which he
always displayed in his employments. Francis I., who was
persuaded of this, unwilling to leave him without a recompense,
previous to his death, ordered a considerable sum of money to be
paid to him. He died in 1552.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 123

CHAPTER IX.
Madame d'Estampes, with a view of farther persecuting the
Author, obtains leave from the King for a perfumer to take
possession of a tennis court within his inclosure — The per
fumer is opposed by Cellini, notwithstanding the King's grant,
and obliged at length to quit the premises — The Author
triumphs on meeting with the King's approbation — He sets
out for Fontainbleau with the silver statue of Jupiter — Prima
ticcio the painter, upon his return from Rome, endeavours to
traduce the Author — Madame d'Estampes' partial behaviour
to the Bolognese painter — Cellini's spirited resentment — The
King's gracious and generous behaviour to the Author —
Adventure of Ascanio.
Madame d'Estampes, having heard of my en
couragement, was more provoked against me than
ever, and said, "I govern the whole kingdom, and
yet such an insignificant fellow as this sets my
power at defiance:" in a word, she left no stone
unturned to effect my destruction. A person
who was a great distiller, happening to fall in her
way, gave her certain odoriferous waters of an
extraordinary nature for the skin, which had never
been used in France before that time: this man

124 MEMOIRS OF
she introduced to the King, to whom he shewed
certain operations in distilling, with which his
majesty was highly delighted. At the time of
these amusements, she made the distiller apply to
the King for a tennis-court at my castle, with
certain little apartments belonging to it, of which
he said I made no use. The King, who knew from
whom this application took its rise, returned no
answer of any sort. Madame d'Estampes, there
upon, began to solicit him, and made use of all
those arts of insinuation with which women know
how to work upon men; and so successful did
she prove, that happening to find the King in an
amorous mood, to which he was very subject, he
granted the lady all she desired.
Thereupon the distiller came, accompanied by
the treasurer Glorier,* one of the first nobility of
* Jean Grolier, of Lyons, was regarded as the Maecenas of
his times. He was sent to Milan in 1515 by Francis I. as his
principal treasurer, and here gained the esteem and affection of
all the best Italians by his integrity and the generous protection
he afforded to men of letters, towards whom he was so liberal,
that having one day invited several to dinner with him, at the
conclusion of the repast he presented to each of his guests a pair
of gloves, whicli were found to be filled with gold. Celio Ro-
digino, Battista Egnasio, and the Aldi, on many occasions avowed
their gratitude to Grolier, who on his return to France being
created Intendant of the Finance, enjoyed a high reputation
until 1565, when he died at the age of 86 years, leaving behind
him the richest collection of books and medals which had till
then existed in France. Cesar Grolier, natural son of Jean,
who published a history of the sacking of Rome in 1528, in the
Latin language, latinized his name into Glorierius, as Cellini has
here done.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 125
France, who understood Italian incomparably
well. In this language he talked to me at first in
a jocular manner, and then coming to the point,
told me, that in the King's name he put the other
man in possession of that tennis-court, and the
little apartments adjoining to it. To this I an
swered, " His sacred majesty is master of this
house, and of every thing in it : you might there
fore enter with the utmost freedom. But this
manner of taking possession by means of the
officers of a court of justice, appears to be rather
a trick than the order of so great a monarch : I
therefore protest to you that instead of going to
complain to his majesty, I will defend myself in
the manner that he commanded me the other day,
that , is, I will throw this man whom you have
quartered upon me out of the window, if I do not
see a commission signed with his majesty's own
hand." Upon my expressing myself thus, the treasurer
went away menacing and muttering to himself,
and I stayed in equal ill humour, but made no
farther stir in his presence. Soon after he was
gone, I went in quest of the notaries, who had
put the man in possession. These, being my inti
mate acquaintances, gave me to understand that it
was a ceremony performed by the King's autho
rity, but not of much consequence ; and if I had
made ever so little resistance, the man would not
have taken possession as he did; adding that there
were acts and customs of the court, which did not

126 MEMOIRS OF
imply any obedience to the King, insomuch that,
if 1 thought proper to dispossess him in the same
manner as he had taken possession, I should do
very well, and need not be under any apprehen
sions with regard to the consequence. Being thus
sufficiently instructed, I the next day had recourse
to open violence : though there were some diffi
culties to struggle with, I took pleasure in exert
ing my utmost efforts to surmount them, and
every day made some assault with stones, pikes;
and muskets : I however fired without ball ; but
even so, struck such terror into my adversary's
adherents, that nobody chose afterwards to stir to
his assistance. Finding him therefore unsup
ported, I one day entered the house by force, and
drove him out, throwing all his goods and furni
ture after him. I then repaired to the King, and
told him that I had done what he had commanded
me, and defended myself against all those that
offered to oppose me in his majesty's service.
The King laughed, and caused new letters to be
issued out, which should secure me from being
ever molested for the future.
In the mean time having with the utmost dili
gence finished the beautiful statue of Jupiter with
its gilt pedestal, I placed it upon a wooden socle,
which scarce made any appearance, and within
that socle I fixed four little globes of wood, which
were more than half hidden in their sockets, and
so admirably contrived, that a little child could
with the utmost ease move this statue of Jupiter
backwards and forwards, and turn it about.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 127
Having adjusted it properly, I took it with me to
Fontainbleau, where the King then resided. Just
about this time the Bolognese painter had brought
the figures already mentioned from Rome, and
caused them to be cast in bronze with the utmost
care. I knew nothing at all of the matter, for he
had transacted the business with great secrecy,
and Fontainbleau is above forty miles from Paris;
Upon my enquiring of the King, in the presence
of madame d'Estampes, where I was to place the
statue of Jupiter, the latter told his majesty, that
there was not a more proper place than his beau
tiful gallery. This is what we might call a por
tico, or rather a corridor : it might indeed be most
properly distinguished by the latter name,' because
we give the appellation of portico to those walks
which are Open on one side; This place was
about two hundred paces long, adorned and en
riched with pictures by the admirable Rosso of
Florence, intermixed with several pieces of sculp
ture, some plain and others in basso rilievo : the
breadth about twelve paces. Here it was that
Bologna the painter had assembled all his bronze
figures, and placed them in the most regular
order, upon their pedestals. As I have observed
above, there were amongst them some ofthe finest
imitations of the antique statues of Rome. Here
also I introduced my Jupiter; and when I saw
this great display of the wonders of art, I said to
myself, this is like passing between the pikes of
the enemy; Heaven protect me from all danger!
Having put the statue into its place, and fixed it

128 MEMOIRS OF
in the most advantageous attitude I could, I
waited the coming of the great monarch.
This figure of Jupiter had a thunderbolt in his
right hand, and by his posture seemed to be just
going to throw it : in his left I had placed a globe,
and amongst the flames I had with great dexterity
put a piece of white torch. Madame d'Estampes
had detained the King till night, with a design to
make mischief either one way or other, by pre
venting his coming, or contriving to make my
work appear unfavourably in the night. As God,
however, has promised to befriend such of his
creatures as put their trust in him, it happened
quite contrary to her expectations ; for when I
saw the night approach, I lighted the torch in the
hand of Jupiter, and as it was raised somewhat
above his head, the light fell upon the statue, and
caused it to appear to much greater advantage
than it would otherwise have done. The King
came accompanied by madame d'Estampes, the
Dauphin his son, now King of France, and the
Dauphiness, the King of Navarre his cousin, the
Princess Margaret his daughter, and several great
lords and noblemen, who had all been instructed
by madame d'Estampes to speak against me.
When I saw his majesty enter, I ordered my boy
Ascanio to push the statue of Jupiter before him,
and this motion being made with admirable con
trivance caused it to appear alive : thus the
above-mentioned bronze figures were left some
what behind, and the eyes of all the beholders

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 129
were first struck with my performance. The King
immediately cried out, " This is one of the finest
productions of art that ever was beheld : I who
take pleasure in such things and understand
them, could never , have conceived a piece of
work the hundredth part so beautiful." The
noblemen who had been directed to rail at my
performance, seemed now to vie with each other
in praising it ; but madame d'Estampes said with
the utmost confidence, " It appears to me that
you are very much at a loss for something to
commend, when you lavish encomiums upon that
statue. Don't you see those beautiful antique
figures which stand a little beyond it? In these
the utmost, perfection of art is displayed, and nofc
in those modern pageants." The King than ad
vanced, as did the rest likewise, and cast an eye
upon the other figures, which appeared to a great
disadvantage, the light being placed below them.
His majesty observing this, said, " Those, who,
have endeavoured to hurt this man, have done;
him the greatest service imaginable; for, from a
comparison with these admirable figures, it is
evident this statue is in every respect vastly
superior to them. Benvenuto is therefore worthy
of the highest esteem, since his performances, in
stead of being barely upon a par with those of
the ancients, greatly surpass, them." In answer
to this, madame d'Estampes observed that my
statue would not at another time appear a thou
sandth part so well as it did by night ; and that
VOL. II. K

130 MEMOIRS OF
it should be farther taken into consideration, that
I had thrown a veil over the figure to conceal its
blemishes. This was an exceedingly thin drapery
which I had placed so gracefully that it gave ad
ditional majesty to the figure. Upon hearing the
above words I took hold of the veil, and pulling
it away discovered the parts it was intended to
conceal. The lady thought I had done this out
of contempt. The King perceived her resent
ment ; and I being overcome with passion was
just going to speak, when the wise monarch ut
tered these words deliberately in his own lan
guage : " Benvenuto, I must interrupt you; there
fore be silent, and you shall have a thousand
times more treasure than you could wish." Not
being allowed to speak, I discovered my emotion
by my contortions : this caused the lady to be
more highly incensed than ever, and made her
mutter her indignation to herself. The King left
the place much sooner than he otherwise would
have done, declaring aloud for my encourage
ment, that he had brought over from Italy one of
the ablest men that the world had ever produced,
and one who was endowed with the greatest
variety of talents.
I left my statue there, and as I chose to quit
the place that morning, the King ordered me a
thousand crowns, partly as a recompense for my
labour, and partly in payment of sums which
appeared from my accounts to have been dis
bursed by myself. Having received the money,
I returned to Paris ; and immediately upon my

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 131
arrival, made merry at my own house. After
dinner I caused all my clothes to be brought me,
which were of the finest furs, or the very best
cloth: out of these I made presents to all my work
men, distributing them according to their deserts,
and even giving some to the maids and the stable-
boys ; thereby encouraging them all to assist me
with alacrity. I set about finishing my statue sof
Mars, the armour of which I had made of pieces
of wood well fastened together. Over his flesh
there was a covering in thickness about equal to
the eighth part of a cubit, made of plaster, and
of the most elegant workmanship. I afterwards
formed a resolution to make up the figure of seve
ral different pieces, and to put them together ac
cording to the rules of art ; and this I with great
care effected.
I must not omit to mention one circumstance
that attended this great work, a thing, indeed,
highly laughable. I had given strict orders to
all those who lived with me not to bring any
women into my castle; and was particularly care
ful to see my orders obeyed. My boy Ascanio
was in love with a girl of extraordinary beauty,
who answered his passion with equal ardour.
The girl, having on that account fled from her
mother, came one night to Ascanio, and not
caring afterwards to return home, he was at a
loss where to conceal her; but necessity shar
pening his wit, he bethought himself of the odd
expedient of hiding her in my Mars, and let her
sleep in the head ofthe statue. There he stayed
k2

132 MEMOIRS OF
to watch her, and in the night he took her out
sometimes without making any noise. I had al
most finished that head, and vanity prompted me
to leave it uncovered, so that it was every day
exposed to the view of the inhabitants of Paris.
The neighbours began to climb upon the roofs of
their houses to see it, and great numbers of peo
ple went thither on purpose to indulge their
curiosity. At this same time a report became
current at Paris, that my old castle was haunted
by a ghost, but, for my part, I could never per
ceive any thing to induce me to think it was well
founded. This ghost was universally called Bovo
through the city of Paris. Now, as the girl who
was concealed in the head could not but be
sometimes seen to move, while her eyes were
more or less apparent, some of the foolish and
credulous populace affirmed that the ghost had
entered the body of the great statue, and that it
made the eyes and mouth move as if it was just
going to speak. Hence it followed that many
went away frightened out of their wits; and
some persons of penetration and sagacity, who
came to see the figure, could not doubt the truth
of what they had heard, when they contem
plated the fire and brightness of the eyes of the
said figure. So they declared in their turn that
there was a spirit within it; not being aware that
there was not only spirit in it, but likewise good
flesh and blood. In the mean time I was busy in
putting together my fine gate with all the orna
ments described above.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 133

CHAPTER X.
A war breaking out with the EmperOr Charles V. the Author is
employed to fortify Paris — Madame d'Estampes, by constant
artifices, prejudices the King against Cellini — His majesty's
expostulation with the latter — Madame d'Estampes continues
her ill offices — Cellini has another conference with theKing, in
which he declares his desire of returning to Italy — He obtains
his Majesty's permission, by means of the Cardinal of Ferrara.
As I do not mean to relate in this narrative of
my life, things which do not concern me, but the
writers of chronicles, I have passed over the
arrival of the Emperor on the French frontiers
with a numerous army, and the King's drawing
together a considerable body of troops to oppose
him. His majesty about this time consulted me
concerning the means of expeditiou'sly fortifying
Paris*: he came purposely to my house in quest
* Towards the end of August, 1544, the Imperialists, by
means of a fictitious letter, procured the surrender of the Castle
of St. Disier, in Champagne, to which they had laid siege, and
advancing along the Maine, surprised the magazines and city of
Epernay and of Chateau-Thiery, situated only nineteen leagues

134 MEMOIRS OF
of me, led me all round the city, and perceiving
how judiciously I talked upon the subject of for
tifications, he empowered me by an express com
mission to cause all I proposed to be instantly
carried into execution. At the same time, he sig
nified to his admiral, sieur Annebaut, to order the
people to obey me upon pain of his displeasure.
The admiral was a man of no genius, who owed
his exalted dignity to the favour of madame
d'Estampes, and not to any merit of his own;
though well deserving his name, which they pro
nounced Ane-et-bo, ass and ox. This blockhead
having told madame d'Estampes of all that had
passed between the King and me, she com
manded him to send for Girolamo Bellarmato*
directly : the latter was an engineer of Sienna,
who lived not above a day's journey from Paris.
from Paris. It was then that the Dauphin withdrew his troops
into the neighbourhood of Meaux, in order to defend the
capital, and that Francis I. strengthened the walls of the same
city, especially towards the suburbs of Montmartre, of the
Temple, of St. Antoine, of St. Jacques, and of St. Michel.
(See Daniel and Sauval.)
* Girolamo Bellarmati, at that time a very eminent professor
of mathematics, of military architecture, and of cosmography,
was banished from his country for political reasons, and having
retired to France was created by Francis I. his principal engi
neer, and more particularly was employed in building the city
and port of Havre-de-Grace. He was much beloved by Claudio
Tolemei, who speaks of him with great affection in a letter to
Guido Guidi, and wrote to him also a long and excellent letter.
Bellarmati published a Map of Tuscany, intituled " Descriptio
Tuscia:."

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 135
He instantly came, and had recourse to the most
slow and tedious method of fortification. I con
cerned myself no longer in the affair ; and if the
Emperor had advanced briskly to Paris, that city
might have been easily taken. It was said with
great truth, that in the treaty afterwards con
cluded, madame d'Estampes, who was the per
son most concerned in negotiating it, had be
trayed the King, and exposed him to the enemy*.
I shall say nothing farther concerning this matter,
because it does not enter into my plan, nor is it
connected with the main subject of my narrative.
I then set about finishing my gate of bronze
* There is great reason to believe, that on this occasion ma
dame d'Estampes betrayed the interests of France ; for being
the decided enemy of Diana of Poictiers, and of the Dauphin,
who favoured Diana, she contrived that the bridge of Epernay
should not be broken down in sufficient time, by which means
the Imperialists were enabled to advance, and the King was
obliged to consent to the proposals of peace, which had been
already set on foot by Queen Eleanora, through the medium of
her confessor, and that of the Emperor her brother. On this
occasion the duke of Orleans, the second son of Francis I.,
received the promise of a niece of Charles V. in marriage, toge
ther with a sovereignty in the Milanese or the Low Countries,
in return for a renunciation on the part of France of all its
rights to those countries. This treaty was highly displeasingi
to the Dauphin, and was indeed of lasting injury to the French
crown; for the duke of Orleans died within a few months
afterwards, before the concerted marriage could take, place;
and Charles V. never granted to the French any other com
pensation for the renunciations made by them on this occa
sion.

136 MEMOIRS OF
with the utmost assiduity and expedition, as
likewise my great vase, and two other middle-
sized ones, made of my own silver. The good
King, after all his various distresses, came to rest
himself for a while at Paris ; and as his pestilen
tial mistress seemed born for the destruction of
the kingdom, I think I may justly value myself
upon her hating me, as her capital enemy. Hav
ing entered into a conversation with the King
concerning my affair, she spoke so ill of me, that
the easy monarch, through complaisance for that
deceitful woman, swore he would never shew me
the least favour, no more than if he had not known
any such person. These words were immedi
ately repeated to me by a page of the Cardinal of
Ferrara, whose name was Ville ; he told me he
had himself heard them from the King's own
mouth. This intelligence put me into so violent
a passion, that having thrown down my tools and
all my other works, I formed a resolution to quit
the kingdom directly. I repaired that moment
to the King, after he had dined, and entered an
apartment where his majesty was with a very
few persons attending him. When he saw me, I
bowed to him with the respect due to a king, and
he nodded to me with a cheerful countenance. I
then began to conceive some hopes, and gradu
ally approached his majesty, because they were
shewing him some things relative to my pro
fession. After some little conversation concerning
these matters, the monarch asked me whether I

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 137
had any thing clever to shew at my house ? add
ing, that he would go thither to see it, whenever
I thought convenient. I made answer that I was
ready to shew him something curious just at that
time, if it were agreeable to his majesty. He
then ordered me to go home, and said he would
follow me without delay. I went accordingly,
and waited the coming of the good monarch, who
was gone to take his leave of madame d'Estampes.
The lady having heard where he was going, told
his majesty that she did not choose to accompany
him ; and moreover requested him not to go to
my house that day himself. She used reiterated
intreaties to dissuade him from his purpose, and
that day he did not come near me.
The day following, I returned to his majesty at
the very same hour: the instant that he saw me,
he swore he would repair directly to my house.
Whilst he was taking his leave of his dear ma
dame d'Estampes, she, through spite at her not
having influence enough to prevent his going,
spoke as bitterly of me as if I had been an inve
terate enemy to the crown. The King declared
that his sole intention in going to see me, was to
scold and reproach me in such terms as would
not fail to throw me into a panic. He faithlully
promised madame d'Estampes that he would act
in that manner. When he came to my house, I
shewed him into some ground-floor apartments,
in which I had put together the several parts of
the gate of Fontainbleau: the King was seized

138 MEMOIRS OF
with such astonishment, that he could not find in
his heart to load me with abuse, as he had pro
mised madame d'Estampes. He did not, however,
choose entirely to go back from his word, as
appears from his having expressed himself to this
effect: "It is something extraordinary, Benve
nuto, that you men of genius are not sensible of
your inability to display your talents without our
assistance, and that you shew yourselves great
only by means of the opportunities that we afford
you: it would become you to be a little more
humble, and less proud and opiniative. I remem
ber I gave you express orders to make twelve
silver statues for me, and that was all I desired
of you; but you took it into your head to make
me a salt-cellar, vases, heads, and a thousand
other fancies of your own ; insomuch that I am
quite surprised you should neglect all that I
required of you, and mind nothing but pleasing
yourself. If you continue to behave thus, I will
shew you in what manner I am used to proceed,
when I want to have things done my own way.
I must therefore repeat it to you, that I insist
upon your shewing yourself obedient, when I
lay my commands upon you, because, if you con
tinue obstinate in your whims, you will only run
your head against the wall."
Whilst his majesty uttered these words, tlie
noblemen stood with the most profound atten
tion, perceiving that he shook his head, knit his
brows, and used a variety of gestures, sometimes

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 139
with one hand, and sometimes with the other: all
present therefore began to tremble for me, but I
was not under the least apprehensions myself.
As soon as he had made an end of reprimanding
me, as he had promised madame d'Estampes, I
knelt with one knee upon the ground, and kissing
his mantle, addressed him in the following terms :
" Sire, I acknowledge the truth of what you say:
all I have to allege in my defence is, that my
heart has been constantly attentive day and night
to obey and serve you, with the utmost exertion
of all my faculties. Whatever appears to the con
trary to your majesty, you may depend upon it,
does not come from Benvenuto, but is the work
of my adverse fate, which has rendered me un
worthy of serving the greatest prince that the world
ever beheld: I therefore humbly ask your pardon.
It appeared to me that your majesty gave me sil
ver for one statue only, and, as I had none of my
own, I could make only that; so with the little sil
ver that was left, I made the vase, to give your ma
jesty an idea of the beautiful manner of antiquity
which in that species of work was perhaps un
known to you before. With regard to the salt
cellar, as well as I can recollect, you one day
desired me to make one, in consequence of some
conversation concerning a salt-cellar that was
shewn you ; upon which 1 produced you a model
which I had formerly made in Italy, solely at
your majesty's request, and you were pleased to
order me a thousand ducats for making it, declar-

140 MEMOIRS OF
ing yourself highly pleased with my performance :
you even went so far as to thank me, when I gave
it to you finished. As for the gate, I apprehend
that your majesty, in some occasional conversa
tion, gave orders to Mons. de Villeroy, your
secretary, to direct Mess. Marmande and Fay
to employ me in such a work, and supply me
with money; for without that assistance, that I
might try the different nature of French clay's,
I could not possibly have gone on with the work.
With regard to the heads, I should not have
thought of casting such large pieces, except
merely to try my hand at that branch of business.
The bases I made in a persuasion, that they were
admirably suited to such figures: however, in all
I undertook, I endeavoured to do my best, and
never lost sight of what your majesty intended.
True it is, I made the great colossal statue, and
brought it to its present degree of perfection at
my own expense; for it appeared to me that it
would become the dignity of so great a monarch,
and reflect some honour on my slender abilities,
that such a statue should be made in your king
dom, as had never been seen by the ancients.
But since I perceive that God has not thought
proper to render me worthy of so honourable a
service, I request it of your majesty, that instead
of the noble recompense you intended to make
me for my labours, you would only give me a
small share of your good-will, and leave to de
part. If you condescend to grant me this favour,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. • 141
I will instantly set out for Italy, returning thanks
to the Supreme Being for the happy hours that I
have been in your majesty's service."
When I had finished, the King took me by the
hand, and in the kindest manner imaginable,
raised me from the ground : he told me that I
ought to be contented to remain in his service,
and that all I had done for him he was highly
pleased with. Turning afterwards to the noble
men present, he deliberately uttered these words ;
" I really believe that if there were to be gates to
Paradise, they never could be finer than such as
this."* When I saw that he had made an end of
his angry speaking, though his words were highly
favourable to me, I again in the most respectful
manner returned him thanks, at the same time re^
peating my request to be dismissed, as my resent
ment had not yet entirely subsided. The great
monarch, perceiving that I made such a return to
his extraordinary caresses, commanded me in a
loud and tremendous voice, not to utter another
word, for that if I did I should repent it : he far
ther added, that he would smother; me in gold,
and that he gave me leave to depart; that the
works which he had employed me upon, were not
so much as begun ; but with respect to what I
* Michel Angelo Buonarroti, used to say that the gate in the
centre ofthe ancient baptistery of S. Gio. in Florence, executed in
bronze by Lorenzo Ghiberti in the beginning of the fifteenth cenr
tury, was worthy of being the entrance of Paradise. (See Vasari.)

142 MEMOIRS OF
had done of my own head, he was very well
pleased ; and that I should never more have any
difference with him, because he knew, me tho
roughly ; and that I should endeavour to study
his temper and know him, as duty required of me.
After answering that I thanked God and his ma
jesty for every thing, I requested him to come
and take a view of the colossal statue, which was
by this time in great forwardness ; so he came to
my house. I caused the statue to be uncovered,
and nothing could equal his astonishment at be
holding it : he gave orders to one of his secreta
ries instantly to reimburse me the money I had
spent out of my own pocket, let the sum be ever
so great, provided I gave him an account written
with my own hand : upon which he left the place
saying to me, " Adieu, mon ami," farewell, my
friend, an expression seldom used by a king.
When he got back to his palace, he could not
help thinking of the words I had used to him,
some of which were so very humble, and others
so excessively proud and haughty, that they had
nettled him greatly. Some of the latter he repeated
before madame d'Estampes, when M. de St.
Paul, one of the great barons of France,* hap-
 1  , 
• Francois de Bourbon, Count de St. Paul, was the friend,
the companion in arms, and one of the principal commanders of
Francis I. He was at the battle of Marignano in 1515, relieved
Mezieres when besieged by the count of Nassau in 1522, de
feated the English at Pas in 1523, saved the advanced guard of
the French army at Rebecco in 1524, and was taken prisoner

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 143
pened to be present. That nobleman, who had
always warmly professed himself my friend, upon
that occasion proved the sincerity of his profes
sions like a true Frenchman. After a good deal
of conversation the King was complaining of the
Cardinal of Ferrara, that, when he had put me
under his care, he gave himself no longer any con
cern about me ; and though I had not quitted the
kingdom, it was not the Cardinal that had pre
vented me : therefore he had serious thoughts of
putting me under the care of some other person
fitter for that office, as he did not choose to be any
longer in danger of losing me. At these words
M. de St. Paul offered his service, telling the
King, that he would take particular care- that I
should no longer be any way tempted to leave the
kingdom. The King replied, that he consented,
if St. Paul would tell him the method he would
pursue to prevent me from deserting his service.
Madame d'Estampes all this while was in a very
with the King at Pavia in 1525. Having returned to Italy
three years afterwards at the head of a new army, he revenged
himself on the town of Pavia by sacking it, but he was again cap
tured by Antonio de Leva, at Laudriano, and remained a pri
soner for three months, until the peace of Cambray. In 1536 the
Count de St. Paul occupied almost all the states of the dukedom
of Savoy, and in 1542 made his last campaign under the Dauphin,
in Picardy and the Luxembourg. He died at the age of fifty-
four years, in 1545, and was regretted as a brother .by Francis I.
He had been governor of Dauphine and ofthe Isle of France, and
having espoused the heiress of the signory of Estouteville, had,
been created by the King duke of that fief.

144 MEMOIRS OF
ill humour, and St. Paul for a time declined an
swering his majesty ; but the King having asked
the question a second time, St. Paul, to please
madame d'Estampes, answered, " I should order
Benvenuto to be hanged, and then you would
be sure of his not making his escape out of the
kingdom." Madame d'Estampes burst into a
loud laugh, and declared it was what I very well
deserved. The King thereupon began to laugh to
keep her company : he agreed, he said, to St. Paul's
hanging me, provided the latter could first find an
artist of equal abilities ; and though I had never
done any thing to deserve hanging, he in that case
left him entirely at liberty to act as he thought
proper. Thus did the day end, and I remained
in security and perfect health, for which thanks
and praise be to the Almighty.
At this time the King had put an end to the
war with the Emperor, but not to that with the
English; insomuch that these devils caused us
great perplexity.* The King, whose thoughts
* The separate peace between Charles V. and Francis I. was
concluded at Crepy, on the terms before-mentioned, on the 18th
September, 1 544, and was the result of the jealousy conceived
by the former against Henry VIIL, King of England, not less
than of the apprehension he entertained of a league amongst
the Protestant Princes of Germany. The English had taken
Boulogne four days before this peace was signed, and being de
sirous of retaining this conquest, continued the war for two
years with great obstinacy. Francis I. had formed three seve
ral schemes by which he intended to carry on his measures

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 145
were not entirely engrossed by pleasure, had
commanded Piero Strozzi to sail with certain gal-
lies into the English seas, though it was a very
difficult and dangerous enterprise. That excellent
officer was one of the greatest men of the age in
which he lived, and at the same time one of the
most unfortunate.* Several months had passed
since I had received any money, or any order to
against the English — with an army of forty thousand men to
attack Boulogne and Calais — with a fleet of upwards of 235
vessels under the command ofthe Admiral Annebaut, who was to
make a descent upon England — and finally by the aid of the
Scotch, at that time engaged in a war with the English. But as
these measures did not seem to produce any considerable effect,
and besides both the belligerent sovereigns were more than ever
disgusted with the treacherous conduct of Charles V., a peace was
concluded between them at Campe, near Ardres, on the 7th June,
1546, in which Henry bound himself to restore Boulogne at the
end of eight years, and Francis agreed to pay to England eight
hundred thousand crowns towards the expenses of the war.
* Piero Strozzi, of whom mention has been previously made,
conducted his soldiers from Italy to France, whilst the treaty of
peace of Crepy was yet pending, and in July 1545 embarked at
Havre, where twenty-five Italian gallies had joined the French
fleet. Although subordinate to Annebaut, Strozzi had a great
share in that maritime war, which may be said to have been the
first of the kind which was carried on to any extent between
France and England. The two fleets repeatedly engaged near the
Isle of Wight, and Strozzi effected an embarkation on that island ;
but as the English kept close to the shore, where it was difficult to
combat them with advantage> the Admiral Annebaut determined
upon re-conducting his forces to France, and landing at Dieppe
proceeded, to Arques, where the Court was then residing, on the
16th August. (See P. Daniel.)
VOL. II. L

14G MEMOIRS OF
work, insomuch that I had dismissed all my jour
neymen except the two Italians, whom I em
ployed in making two little vases of my own sil
ver, because they did not understand working
in bronze. As soon as they had finished these
pieces, I carried them to a town belonging to the
Queen of Navarre, called Argenton*, distant se
veral days journey from Paris. I arrived at the
place, and found the King indisposed. The Car
dinal of Ferrara informed his Majesty of my arri
val : the King made him no answer ; so that I
was obliged to stay there several days in great
perplexity, and indeed I never was more dis
gusted in the whole course of my life. Not long
after I presented myself one evening before his
Majesty, and shewed him the two fine vases, with
which he was highly delighted.
When I saw him in a good humour, I requested
him to let me make a tour to Italy, for pleasure
and recreation; and that I would leave seven
months' salary which his Majesty was in arrear to
me, to be remitted to me in Italy, in case I wanted
* Margaret de Valois, on her marriage with the King of Na
varre, received as a portion from her brother Francis I. the
whole of the fiefs which had previously belonged to the duke
Charles d'Alencon, her first husband, who had left no children.
Argenton, a small but delightful city in the department of the
Orne, about 44 leagues from Paris, was situated in the duchy of
Alencon in Normandy, and Margaret passed a great part of the
year there, although the Court of Navarre was commonly sta
tioned at Pan, in the principality of Bern.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 147
it. I begged that he would be graciously pleased
to grant me that favour, as it was then a time to
think of military operations, and not of making
statues. I added, that as his Majesty had granted
Primaticcio the painter such a favour, I hoped he
would shew me the same indulgence. Whilst I
uttered these words, the King looked attentively
at the two vases, and sometimes frowned on me
so sternly, that I was quite shocked ; 1 however
continued to request the same favour, and in-
treated him to grant it me in the most persuasive
manner I possibly could. He appeared to me to
be in a great passion, and, upon his rising, spoke
to me thus in Italian : " Benvenuto, you are a
great fool ; carry those vases directly to Paris,
for I want to have them gilt ;" and without making
me any other answer, he departed. I repaired to
the Cardinal of Ferrara, and requested him, that
since he had been so good a friend to me in deli
vering me out of prison in Rome, and conferring
on me so many other favours, he would add one
more to them, in endeavouring to procure leave
for me from his Majesty to return to Italy. The
Cardinal made answer, that he would gladly do
any thing that lay in his power to oblige me, and
t t i that I might leave the affair entirely to him : nay,
that if I chose it, I might go directly, and he
would take care to excuse me to the King. I
then said to him, that since his Majesty had put
me under the care of his reverence, if he wrere
pleased to give me leave, I would set out directly,
l 2

148 MEMOIRS OF
and return whenever he should think proper to
signify his pleasure. The Cardinal desired me
to go to Paris, and stay there a week, assuring me
that he would in that time obtain leave for me to
return to my own country : that in case, however,
the King was against my going, he would let me
know it by letter; but if I did not hear from him
in that time, I might set out for Italy.

BENVENUTO CELLINI 149

CHAPTER XL

The Author leaves his house and effects in the care of two ser
vants, and sets out for Italy — Ascanio is sent after him to
demand the two vases belonging to the King — Terrible storm
in the neighbourhood of Lyons — The Author meets count
Galeotto of Mirandola, in Italy, who apprises him of the
treachery of the Cardinal of Ferrara and his two servants —
At Piacenza he meets with duke Pier Luigi — He arrives safe
at Florence, where he finds his sister with her six young
daughters. At my return to Paris, I followed the Cardi
nal's directions, and made very fine cases for the
two pieces of plate. Twenty days being expired,
I got ready for my departure, and put the two
vases upon a mule of burthen, which had been
lent me to go as far as Lyons, by the bishop of
Pavia, to whom I had again given an apartment
in my castle. I departed in an unlucky hour
with signor Ippolito Gonzaga, who received the
King's pay, and was likewise in the service of
count Galeotto of Mirandola, with some other

150 MEMOIRS OF
gentlemen belonging to the said count*. There
likewise went with us Lionardo Tedaldi, a Flo
rentine. I left under the care of my journeymen
my castle and all my effects, amongst which were
some little vases just begun, so that they had no
occasion to remain idle. There was likewise in
my house a good deal of furniture of great value,
for I made a considerable figure at Paris. The
value of these effects of mine amounted to above
fifteen hundred crowns.
I desired Ascanio to remember all the favours
he had received from me, telling him, that hitherto
he had been only a giddy youth, but it waS then
high time for him to think solidly, and behave
like a man ; that I chose to leave under his care
all my effects, and even my honour itself; adding
that in case he happened to be ill-used by any
of those French rascals, he had no more to do
but write to me, and I would instantly ride post
to Paris, as well on account of the great obliga
tions I had to the King of France, as to assert
my honour. Ascanio said to me with the coun
terfeit tears of a thief, " I never had a more in
dulgent and tender father than you : I will there
fore always behave to you as the most dutiful
son would to the best and kindest of fathers."
* The count Galeotto married Ippolita Gonzaga, daughter of
Luigi Signore di Bozzolo and Sabionetta. This Ippolito, who
was probably of the same family, governed Mirandola in the
name of Galeotto in 1537 and 1538. (See Tiraboschi.)

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 151
Matters being thus settled, I set out, attended
by a, footman and a little French boy. In about
six hours after my departure, there came to my
house some of the treasurers who were by no
means my friends. These villains ordered signor
Guido and the Archbishop of Pavia to send after
me directly for the King's vases, otherwise they
would dispatch a person for them in a manner
that I should not like. - The bishop and signor
Guido were much more afraid upon the occasion
than was necessary, so that they immediately
sent after me the treacherous Ascanio, whom I
saw about midnight. I was kept awake by my
anxiety, and said in a sorrowful mood to myself,
*' To whose care do I leave my effects and my
castle ? What strange decree of fate obliges me
to undertake this journey ? The Cardinal must
certainly be in a confederacy with madame
d'Estampes, who desires nothing more ear
nestly than that I should forfeit that good King's
favour." Whilst I was in this agitation of mind, hearing
myself called by Ascanio, I instantly rose, and
asked him, whether he brought me good or bad
news? The thief answered, "I bring you good
news ; but you must send back the vases, for
those rogues of treasurers make a terrible stir
about them ; so that the bishop and signor Guido
insist upon your sending them back by all means.
Be under no apprehensions about any thing else,
but make your tour, and enjoy all the pleasures

152 MEMOIRS OF
that life can afford." I thereupon put the two
vases into his hands, but the money and other
effects I carried to the abbey of the Cardinal of
Ferrara at Lyons ; for though it was given out
that I intended to carry them with me to Italy,
it is well known that no specie, either gold or
silver, can be conveyed out of the kingdom with
out particular permission. It should therefore be
well considered, whether it would have been
possible for me to carry off the two large beau
tiful vases, which with the boxes that contained
them loaded a mule. It is true that as they were
very fine things, and of great value, I was appre
hensive of the King's death, having left him very
much indisposed; but I comforted myself with
the reflection, that if any thing were to happen,
I could not lose them, as they were in the hands
of the Cardinal. To proceed : I sent back the
mule with the vases and other things of value,
and with the company above-mentioned continued
my journey the next morning. But I could not
all the whole way refrain from sighing and weep
ing. I sometimes indeed sought consolation by
addressing myself to God in such terms as these,
" O Lord, to whom the truth is manifest, thou
knowest that 1 travel in this manner merely to
assist six poor unfortunate maidens, and their
mother, who is my own sister ; for though their
father is still living, he is so far advanced in years,
and makes so little by his business, that they
may probably be in very distressed circumstances;

BENVENUTO CELLINT. 153
therefore in performing this pious office, I hope
from thy Divine Majesty assistance 'and advice."
This was my only consolation as I travelled on
to Italy.
When we were within a day's journey of Lyons,
it being almost ten o'clock at night, some dry
thunder-claps were heard, and the air flashed
with lightning : I was about a bow-shot before
my companions. After the lightning there is
sued such a terrible peal of thunder from the sky,
that I thought it was the day of judgment. I
stopped awhile, when there began to fall a thick
shower of hail, without a single drop of rain. The
hailstones were of an extraordinary thickness,
and hurt me excessively — they were the size of
cerbottana balls *. The shower grew thicker and
thicker, so that the hailstones at last became really
as big as the stones of a cross-bow. Perceiving
my horse terribly frightened, I rode back with the
utmost speed, till I came up with my company,
who, being seized with a panic of the same sort,
had taken shelter in a grove of pines. . The hail at
length rose to the size of lemons, and I cried out,
" Have mercy upon me, O God." Whilst I was
devoutly addressing the Deity, there came a hail
stone so big, that it broke off a large branch of
the pine-tree, under the shelter of which I thought

* A short hollow stick, four cubits long, through which little
balls of earth are driven by the force of the breath, and used
particularly against birds.

154 MEMOIRS OF
myself in safety : another heap of the hailstones
fell upon the head of my horse, which seemed just
ready to drop down ; and one of them hit myself,
but not completely, for it would certainly have
killed me : another likewise struck poor old Lio
nardo Tedaldi, so that he. who like me had been
almost upon his knees, fell with his hands to the
ground. Perceiving, then, that this branch could
no longer afford shelter either to myself or the
rest, and that besides singing psalms some exer
tion ofthe powers was necessary, I began to wrap
my clothes about my head, and told Lionardo,
who was incessantly crying out, " Help, Jesus,
Jesus !" that Jesus would assist him, if he endea
voured to help himself; so that I found more
difficulty in attending to this old man's preserva
tion than to my own. This trouble lasted for a
considerable time, and at length ceased.
After we had been all terribly pelted, we re
mounted our horses as well as we could ; and
whilst we were travelling on to the inn where
we intended to lodge, and shewing each other
our hurts and bruises, we found, at about a mile's
distance, a scene of distress so much deeper than
our own, that it is almost impossible to describe
it. The trees were all broken down, and all the
cattle were deprived of life : we likewise found a
great many shepherds killed, and upon seeing
several hailstones, which a man would have found
it a difficult matter to have grasped with both
hands, we thought ourselves very happy in having

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 155
come off as we did. We were then sensible, that
calling upon God and singing those psalms had
done us more good than we could have done our
selves : we therefore returned thanks to the Su
preme Being, and continued our journey the next
day to Lyons, where we made a stay of a week.
After having well refreshed ourselves, we conti
nued our journey, and passed the mountains hap
pily : there I bought a colt, because the baggage
I had with me had quite fatigued my horses.
When we had been a day in Italy, we were
joined by count Galeotto of Mirandola, who
had travelled post. He stayed awhile with us,
and told me that I had taken a wrong step in
leaving France ; that it would be advisable for
me not to proceed any farther, because my affairs
might suddenly change their aspect, and take a
more favourable turn than ever. He concluded
with observing, that by continuing my journey I
should open a field to my enemies, and give
them an . opportunity to hurt me ; whereas by
returning directly I should defeat the stratagems
of their malice, and prevent them from taking
effect. He added, that those in whom I put the
greatest confidence, were the very persons that
imposed upon me. The count did not choose to
explain himself any farther, but knew very well
that the Cardinal of Ferrara was in a confederacy
with my two rogues of journeymen, in whose
care I had left all my effects. He again repeated
it, that I ought by all means to return to Paris ;

156 MEMOIRS OF
and, taking leave of me, travelled on with post-
horses, whilst I, with my company above-men
tioned, chose to ride forward also. Being in a
constant agitation, sometimes wishing to arrive
speedily at Florence, sometimes desirous to re
turn to France, I continued in this irresolute
state, till at last I formed a resolution to take
post in order to reach Florence with the utmost
expedition. As I could not reconcile my mind
to go back to France, I determined to go and
pass a melancholy life at Florence ; and, there
fore, not agreeing with the first post, I parted
company with signor Ippolito Gonzaga, who had
taken the road to Mirandola ; mine was through
Parma and Piacenza.
Being arrived at Piacenza, I happened to meet
in one of the streets of that city with the duke
Pier Luigi, who, examining me attentively, knew
me again. Sensible that all I had suffered in the
Castle of St. Angelo took its rise from this man,
I felt the utmost indignation at the sight of him ;
but, not being able to think of any expedient to
get out of his power, I at last resolved to pay
him a visit. 1 entered just as the servants were
taking away, and there were with him some per
sons belonging to the family of Landi, the same
by whom he was afterwards murdered. At my
arrival he lavished his caresses upon me immo
derately. He then entered into conversation,
and told those present that I was the first man of

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 157
the times, and that I had been a long time in
prison at Rome. He addressed himself after
wards to me, and said, " My good friend Ben
venuto, I was very sorry for your misfortune,
from my consciousness of your innocence, but it
was not in my power to relieve you. My father
persecuted you at the instigation of some of your
enemies, who had insinuated that you had spoken
ill of him, though I am certain you never did ;
and I was very much concerned for your suffer
ings." To these words he added so many more
of the same tendency, that he seemed almost to
ask my pardon. He inquired next about the
several pieces of work that I had done for his
most Christian Majesty. Upon my giving him
an account of them, he seemed to be all atten
tion, and listened to me with the greatest com
plaisance imaginable. This being over, he asked
me whether I was willing to enter into his ser
vice ? I made answer that I could not consist
ently with the laws of honour; adding, that
when I had once finished the great works that I
had begun for the King, I would neglect the ser
vice of all the greatest lords, to devote myself
entirely to his excellency.
Upon this occasion the Divine justice, which
never leaves those unpunished who oppress and
ill-treat the innocent, displayed itself conspicu
ously. This man, as it were, asked pardon of
me in the presence of those who soon after re-

158 MEMOIRS OF
venged me, as well as many more, that had been
used by him with barbarity*. Therefore no prince,
nor lord, however potent, should laugh at the
Divine vengeance ; which was the case of many
of those who most cruelly outraged me, as I
shall inform the reader in due time. I do not
write this narrative of my adventures through a

* At the time of this journey of Cellini to Piacenza, which was
certainly not posterior to the 1st of August, Pier Luigi Farnese
was not yet invested with the sovereignty of that state. He
had been sent by Paul III. his father, whilst the war was raging
in Piedmont, in quality of Gonfaloniere and Captain-General of
the Church, and was not created duke until after the consistory
held on the 19th of August, 1545, and the Pope's brief of the
16th of September following, at which time Cellini was, as we
shall see, already in Florence.
The catastrophe here alluded to of this Pier Luigi, and which
is falsely attributed to the Landi, owed its origin principally to
the imprudence of Pier Luigi, in not restraining or concealing
his antipathy to Charles V. The Emperor had refused to ac
knowledge Farnese in his new duchy, and, as patron of Milan,
laid pretensions himself to the cities of Parma and Piacenza,
which were renounced by the Church. These cities, after tlieir
conquest by Matteo Visconti, in 1315, had been given to the
Pope in consequence of a rebellion, and had been, in 1513,
newly adjudged to the duke of Milan. Pier Luigi, deeply irri
tated at this, and finding himself insecure upon his throne, was
continually instigating his father and the court of France against
Charles V. He on many occasions gave great offence to the
governor of Milan, Ferrante Gonzaga : he entered into the con
spiracy of Gian Luigi Fieschi against Andrea Doria ; perse
cuted to the utmost the partisans of Caesar, and proposed to
reign by mere force and . terror ; erecting castles, fulminating
confiscations, and depressing generally the whole class, at that

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 159
motive of vanity, but merely to return thanks to
God, who has extricated me out of so many
trials and difficulties ; who likewise delivers me
from those that daily impend over me. Upon all
occasions I pay my devotions to him ; call upon
him as my defender, and recommend myself to
his care. I always exert my utmost efforts to
time a veiy powerful one, of feudatories and nobles. These
jpolitical errors of Luigi, rather than his personal depravity and
ferocity, were the causes which in a short time drew him to the
brink of the precipice, and gave rise to one of the most atro
cious conspiracies, which, although executed by his own cour
tiers, had been securely contrived in concert with the Imperial
ists of Milan. It broke out on the 10th of September, 1547,
about mid-day, and in the citadel of Piacenza itself, in which
Pier Luigi then resided. Girolamo Pallavicini assembled the
people in a church of the city ; Gio. Luigi, the Gonfaloniere, held
the German guards at bay in the interior ofthe ducal palace ;
Agostino Landi occupied the principal gate, and Gio. Francesco
Anguissola, with a company of troops, seized the duke in his
apartment, killed him with their poniards, and threw him out
of a window. A few hours afterwards the Imperialists arrived
with the governor of Milan, and occupied Piacenza in the name
of Charles V. They did not succeed, however, in surprising
Parma, which, by the vigilance and loyalty of the garrison,
was preserved to Ottavio Farnese, son of Pier Luigi. Ottavio,
although he had in 1538 married Margaret of Austria, a natural
daughter of Charles V., was not able to obtain the restoration
of Piacenza from his father-in-law ; but, after much trouble, he
at length regained it from Philip II. in 1557, in consequence of
his prudent declaration in his favour against Paul IV. and
France ; and thus the duchies of Parma and Piacenza became
reunited. In the time of Pier Luigi it was styled in all acts the
Duchy of Piacenza and Parma.

160 MEAIOIRS OF
extricate myself; but when I am quite at a loss,
and all my powers fail me, then the force of the
Deity displays itself — that formidable force which
unexpectedly attacks those who wrong and op
press others, and such as neglect the great and
honourable duty to which God has enjoined
them. Upon my return to my inn I found that the
duke had sent me several considerable presents of
meats and wines. I ate heartily; and having
mounted on horseback, bent my course towards
Florence. On my arrival in that city I found my
sister with six daughters, one of whom was
marriageable, and one still in the nurse's arms. I
likewise found her husband there, who on account
of a variety of accidents that had befallen him, no
longer continued his business. I had, above a
twelvemonth before, sent them jewels and French
presents to the value of above two thousand
ducats, and had then brought with me to the
amount of a thousand crowns. Upon this occa
sion I discovered, that though I allowed them four
gold crowns a month, they every day raised money
upon my presents, which they were continually
selling. My brother-in-law was a man of so much
principle, that for fear I should be angry with him,
when the money I sent him for his support proved
insufficient, he pawned all he had in the world,
and borrowed upon the most exorbitant interest,
purely to avoid meddling with money that was

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 161
not intended for him. In consequence of this be
haviour, I knew him to be a man of great virtue
and integrity, conceived a greater desire to serve
him than ever, and grew impatient to provide for
all his little daughters before I left Florence.

VOL. II. M

162 M F. MO IKS OF

CHAPTER XII.
Cellini is graciously received by Cosmo de' Medici, grand duke
of Tuscany — after a long conference he engages in the duke's
service — The duke assigns Cellini a house to work in — De
lays of the duke's servants to fit it up for the Author's use —
Ridiculous scene between him and the duke's steward.
The duke of Florence happening to be about
this time, which was the month of August in the
year 1545, at Poggio Cajano*, a place ten miles
distant from Florence, I waited on his excellency
merely to compliment him, as I was a citizen of
Florence, and as my ancestors had been very much
attached to the house of Medici, but none of them
more so than myself: I therefore repaired to Ca
jano, solely to pay my respects to duke Cosmo,
for whom I had an affection, and not with an in-
* Poggio a Cajano. formerly the castle of the Cancellieri of
Pistoja and then of the Strozzi and the Medici, was a princely
villa, and famous even from the time of Lorenzo the Magnifi
cent, who maintained there a menagerie of wild beasts at a time
when no other court of Europe entertained even an idea of such
a thing. (See Viaggi in Toscana, by Tozzetti.)

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 163
tention to make any stay.* But, as God orders
all things for the best, it was his divine will that
when the duke saw me, after receiving me with
the greatest kindness, and profusely lavishing his
caresses on me, both he and the duchess began to
inquire about the different works that I had made
for the King of France. I gladly and without
hesitation gave them a circumstantial narrative of
all I had done for that monarch. When the duke
had heard me to an end, he said that he had beeti
informed of the whole before, and that all I had
related was true. He then exclaimed, " How ill
have so many great and beautiful works been re
warded ! my good friend Benvenuto, if you would
do something for me, I would pay you far more
satisfactorily than that King has done, upon
whom you lavish your praises." I then replied
that I had great obligations to his majesty for
delivering me from an unjust confinement, and
afterwards giving me an opportunity of signalizing
myself by the most admirable performances that
were ever done by any artificer. Whilst I ex-
* The duke, afterwards the grand duke Cosmo, in 1539,
through the particular mediation of Charles V. married Eleonora
di Toledo, daughter of the viceroy of Naples. This princess,
although virtuous and of a mind truly great and beneficent, was
not much beloved by the Florentines ; for, as a native of Spain
and a descendant of the dukes of Alva, she was naturally little
inclined to be affable towards the Italians, and she was conse
quently accused of pride, and of indulging too much her incli
nation for the people and the customs of Spain.
M 2

164 MEMOIRS OF
pressed myself thus, the duke made strange con
tortions, and seemed hardly to have patience to
hear me out. As soon as I had ceased speaking,
he said, " If you are willing to work for me, I
will pay you in such a manner as will perhaps
surprise you, provided I am pleased with your
performance, as I make no doubt but I shall be."
I, like a poor unfortunate creature as I was, being
desirous of shewing that since I left that admirable
school * I had cultivated talents which it did not
think of, answered the duke that I would gladly
undertake to make a great statue of marble or
bronze for his fine square at Florence.! He re
plied that all he desired for a specimen, was a
Perseus. This he had expressed a desire of having
for some time, and ordered me to make him a
little model of one. Accordingly in a few weeks I
finished one about a cubit in length : it was made
of yellow wax, and both ingenuity and labour
were exerted in the execution.
The duke came to Florence, and, before I could
have an opportunity of shewing him this model,
* The Florentine school, or the body or college of masters
and designers of Florence, wliich was not then aware that Cel
lini had abandoned the art of a goldsmith for that of sculpture
in general.
t The square, which is situate before the ancient palace of the
republic called Palazzo Vecchio, in which dwelt the duke Cosmo
before he went to reside at the palace Pitti. Cosmo made it his
particular study to adorn this square, placing there, as we
shall see hereafter, the works of Cellini, BandineUi, Gio. Bo
logna, and Ammanato.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 165
there passed several days, during which he be
haved as if he had never seen nor known me, so
that I began to think myself upon indifferent
terms with his excellency. But having one day
after dinner carried the model into his wardrobe,
I found him with the duchess and some of the
nobility : he no sooner saw it, but he was pleased
with it, and praised it to excess, which made me
in some measure hope that he would have a right
idea of it. When he had sufficiently viewed it,
his satisfaction was greatly increased, and he
expressed himself to this effect: "My friend
Benvenuto, if you were to make a great work
according to this little model, it would surpass
every thing in the square*." I then replied,
" Most excellent sir, in the square of Florence
are the works of the great Donatello f, and the
* Galluzzi, in his Istoria del Gran Ducato di Toscana, says, that
the duke Cosmo having seen the model of Perseus, said to the
author of it, " If you have the courage to finish this work for me
in a style equal to the model, you may ask what you like." But
I do not know whence-this illustrious writer draws these words.
t Donato di Betto di Bardo, or according to others, Di Niccolo
di Betto, commonly called Donatello, who died at Florence in
1466, was the first amongst the moderns who by inducing
Cosmo de' Medici to purchase, and himself studying with
great diligence the monuments of the ancient artists, recalled the
art of sculpture to its pristine purity and perfection. He com
pleted in Florence, besides many other works, the statue of
bronze which is now seen in the square of the Palazzo Vecchio
representing Judith about to cut off the head of Holofernes, a
work of great excellence, and to which our Author here alludes.
— See Vasari and Baldinucci.

166 MEMOIRS OF
admirable Michel Angelo*, the two greatest
statuaries since the days of the ancients: your
excellency therefore pays me a high compliment ;
for I will take upon me that the execution of the
work shall be three times as masterly as that of
the model." The duke, who maintained that he
was a great connoisseur in these things, disputed
the matter with me for a while. I answered,
" That my works would decide the contest, and
put his excellency out of all doubt, for I was sure
of being able to do more than keep my word. I
at the same time desired he would afford me the
means of carrying my design into execution,
because without such assistance it would be im
possible for me to keep the promise I had made his
excellency. Upon which he bade me give in to
him a written account of all I had occasion for,
without omitting a single article, and he would
take care I should be properly supplied. Cer
tain it is, that if I had been sufficiently cautious
to make an agreement in writing for all that
I had occasion for in my works, I should not
have had half the trouble and perplexity which 1
* Buonarroti, at the age of twenty-six years, having obtained a
piece of marble which had been damaged by another artist, cut that
colossal statue representing David in his youth, with a sling in
his hand. This statue stood from the year 1504, opposite the
gate of the Palazzo Vecchio, as emblematical of the duty of the
heads of the people to watch over the defence of their subjects.
Vasari reckons this work among the most admirable perform
ances of that great man.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 167
brought upon myself by my own negligence; for
the duke seemed to have a great desire to have
works done, and to supply those employed in
them : but I, not being aware that he intended to
engage in great undertakings, proceeded in the
most generous manner with his excellency. I how
ever made out the account in writing, which was
answered with the greatest liberality imaginable :
whereupon I said, "Most noble patron, contracts
do not properly consist in verbal agreements, nor
in such writings as this; all that is required is
that I should keep my promise with your excel
lency. In case I succeed, I take it for granted,
you will remember me, and perform all that you
have promised on your part." Upon my express
ing myself thus, the duke was so highly pleased
with my words and my behaviour, that both he
and the duchess lavished upon me the most extra
ordinary compliments and caresses conceivable.
As I had a strong desire to set about my
work directly, I told his excellency that I had
occasion for a house of such a sort that I could
conveniently set up my little furnaces in it, and
carry on a variety of works, both of earth and
bronze, and of gold and silver separately; for I
knew how likely he was to make use of me in
the various branches of my business, and I could
not conduct it without proper apartments for the
purpose. I told him at the same time, that to
convince his excellency how zealous I was to
serve him, I had already pitched upon a house

168 MEMOIRS OF
that would answer my intentions, and with the
situation of which I was highly pleased ; but as
I did not intend to trouble him for money or any
thing else till he had seen my performance, I
had brought two jewels with me from France,
with which I requested his excellency to purchase
that house for me; and desired he would keep
them in his possession till I had earned them by
my labour. The workmanship of these jewels was
exquisite, and done by my journeymen from my
own designs. After having looked at them for a
time, the duke expressed himself in these encou
raging terms, which inspired me with the most
flattering expectations. " Take your jewels again,
- Benvenuto, for it is you I want and not them; you
shall have the house you mention, without its
costing you any thing." He then wrote a line
under my memorial, which I have ever since
kept by me, and the purport of which was as
follows : " Let the house be examined, and the
price of it inquired into, for we intend it for
Benvenuto." When I read this order, I thought
myself sure of the house, as I fancied that my
works would not fail to give the highest satisfac
tion to my employer. His excellency at the same
time gave express orders about the affair to his
steward, named Pier Francesco Riccio (who was
a native of Prato, and had formerly been tutor
to the duke). I spoke to this fool of a fellow,
and gave him an exact account of all I stood
in need of: for I proposed to erect a shop on a

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 169
piece of ground which was then laid out in a
garden. The steward immediately employed a
close, artful agent, whose name was Lattanzio
Gorini. This Was a little man, who seemed
to crawl like a spider, had a feeble voice re
sembling that of a gnat, and was as slow as a
snail in his motions. He unluckily caused such a
small quantity of stones, sand, and mortar, to be
brought to the spot, as would have scarcely made
a pigeon- house. Perceiving that things went on
so ill, I began to be alarmed ; I however said
within myself, little beginnings sometimes con
duct to a great end. • I likewise conceived some
hopes from seeing how many thousand ducats
the duke had squandered away upon some little
ordinary works of sculpture done by the stupid
Baccio Bandinello. So, rallying my spirits as
well as I could, I did my utmost to stimulate
Lattanzio ; and the better to excite him, I em
ployed some other mean fellows, that had an
influence over him, to remind him of his duty;
but it was like talking to lame asses with a blind
man for their guide. Although I had so many
difficulties to encounter, I, with my own money,
caused a place to be marked out for a shop ;
ordering vines and other trees to be plucked up
by the roots, with my usual ardour, and even
with a degree of fury. At the same time I em
ployed one Tasso, a carpenter, who was my inti
mate friend, and got him to make certain props
and supports of wood, that I might begin my

170 MEMOIRS OF
great statue of Perseus. This Tasso was an ex
cellent workman — I do not think he was ever
equalled in his business. Besides, he was face
tious and merry ; for every time I went to him,
he came up to me smiling, with a ballad in his
hand. I was by this time half desperate, as well
from having heard that my affairs were in a very
untoward situation in France, as because I had
but little hopes from my employers here, on ac
count of their coldness. I constantly put a con
straint upon myself, to hear one half of my car
penter's ballad ; but at last I grew cheerful in
his company, making an effort to dispel some of
my melancholy and desponding thoughts.
I had now given proper directions concerning
all the things above-mentioned, and began to
hurry the workmen on, that I might the sooner
prepare for my great undertaking. Already part
of the mortar had been used, when I was sent for
by the dukes steward ; upon which I instantly
repaired to him, and found him, just after the
duke had dined, in the hall of the palace where
the clock stood*. As I approaiched him with re
spect, he, with great rudeness and asperity, asked
me, who had put me in possession of that house,

* The Hall dell' Oriuolo in the Palazzo Vecchio, was that in
which stood the famous cosmographic clock, made by Lorenzo
della Volpaja for Lorenzo de' Medici the Magnificent, a short
time previous to the year 1484. This clock is highly praised
by Angelo Poliziano, Francesco Albertini, Vasari, and others.
See Domenico Maria Manni, de Flor. Inventis.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 171
and by what authority I had begun to build
there ? adding, that he was quite surprised at my
boldness and presumption. I answered that I
had been put in possession of the house by his
excellency, who had upon the occasion employed
one Lattanzio Gorini as his agent ; that the said
Lattanzio had caused stones, sand, and mortar to
be carried to the house, and had supplied me
with all that I wanted. I added, that for all this
I had received his own order, though he ques
tioned me about my authority. When I had
expressed myself in this manner, the vile fellow
flew into a more violent passion than at first, and
told me that neither he nor any of those I men
tioned had spoken the truth. This behaviour at
last provoked my resentment, and I replied to
him in these terms : " Mr. Steward, so long as
you speak in a manner agreeable to the dignity of
your character, I shall have a due regard for you,
and address you with the same respect that I do
the duke himself; but in case you behave other
wise, I shall speak to you only as Francesco
Riccio." Hereupon the old man flew into such a
passion, that I thought he would instantly have
been deprived of his senses : he told me, with
much opprobrious language, that he was sur
prised he should condescend so far as to speak to
such a person as I was. At these words I was
incensed with the highest indignation, and said,
" Hear me a word or two, Francesco Riccio, and
I will tell you who are my equals, and who are

172 MEMOIRS OF
yours ; yours are pedagogues that teach children
to read." The old man thereupon, with a coun
tenance quite inflamed with choler, raised his
voice, and repeated the very same words as
before. I began in my turn to look big, and
assuming somewhat to myself, told him that such
men as I were worthy of speaking to popes, em
perors, and mighty monarchs : that there was
perhaps but one such as I in the world, whereas
there were dozens such as he to be met with in
every corner. When he heard this, he went up
towards a window in the hall, and desired me to
repeat my words once more ; I accordingly re
peated them more boldly than at first ; adding,
that I no longer desired to serve the duke, and
that I would go back to France, where I was
sure of being welcome. The fool remained quite
thunder-struck, and as pale as ashes, while I went
off in a violent passion, with a resolution to leave
the place ; and would to God I had put my de
sign in execution. The duke certainly did not
immediately hear of this broil, for I stayed a
few days, having laid aside all thoughts of Flo
rence, except so far as related to my sister and
my nieces, whom I provided for as well as I could
with what little money I had left. I was then
for returning to France, without any inclination
ever to see Italy again, being resolved to go off
with all possible expedition, and that without
taking my leave of the duke, or any body else
whomsoever.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 173
One morning the steward sent for me of his
own accord, and began with an air of great ci
vility to make^a long pedantic oration, in which
I could perceive neither method, meaning, head,
nor tail ; all I could gather from it was, that as
he professed himself to be a christian, he did not
care to harbour malice against any man, and now
he asked me in the duke's name what salary I rer
quired for my support. I thereupon continued
for a time wrapt in meditation, without returning
any answer, and the reason was that I did not
intend to stay at Florence. Perceiving that I did
not answer immediately, he carried his com
plaisance so far as to say: " Benvenuto, a duke
is deserving of an answer ; what I say to you is
by the duke's orders." I then replied, and de
sired him to tell his excellency, that I could by
no means submit to be below any of those of my
profession, whom he had at his court. The
steward immediately said: " Bandinello has a
pension of two hundred crowns a year ; so that,
if that sum will satisfy yOu, your salary is fixed."
I told him it would, and if I deserved any thing
over, it might be given me after my works had
been seen, and should be left entirely to his ex
cellency's judgment and pleasure. Thus did I
against my inclination again engage in this ser
vice, and begin to work. The duke every day
lavished new favours on me, and treated me with
the greatest kindness conceivable.

174 MEMOIRS OF

CHAPTER XIII.
The French King is prejudiced against the Author by the trea
cherous insinuations of Cellini's own servants — This prevents
his return to France — He undertakes a large statue of Per
seus and Andromeda, but meets with great difficulty in car
rying on the work, through the jealousy and perfidious be
haviour of the sculptor Bandinello — He receives letters from
France, by which he is censured for returning to Italy before
he had settled his accounts with the King — He answers by
giving a clear account in writing — Story of a fraud com
mitted by the grand duke's servants in the sale of a diamond
— A conspiracy is formed against Cellini.
By this time I had received several letters from
France, from my faithful friend signor Guido
Guidi ; but none of these letters had brought
any bad news. Ascanio himself wrote to me from
time to time, desiring me to consult my inclina
tion without reserve, and assuring me, that if
any thing happened, he would take care to ap
prise me of it. The King was informed that I
had entered into the service of the duke of Flo
rence, and as he wns lhe bcst-naturcd prince in

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 175
the whole world, he often said, " Why does not
Benvenuto return ?" Having inquired in a parti
cular manner of my two young men, they both
told him, that I had often written that I was
greatly encouraged and very happy where I was,
and that they did not apprehend I should ever
come back to serve his Majesty. The King,
highly incensed upon hearing these disrespectful
words, which never came from me, replied :
" Since he has quitted my service without any
cause, I will never again inquire after him ; so he
may stay where he is." Thus these villains and
assassins brought affairs to the crisis they desired ;
for in case I had returned to France, they must
again have become my journeymen and depen
dents as at first ; but they thought that if I never
returned, they should be their own masters, and
have all my business: hence it was that they
exerted themselves to the utmost to prevent my
return. Whilst I was getting my shop erected, in order
to begin the statue of Perseus, I worked in a
room on the ground floor, in which I made a
model of that statue in plaster, of the intended
size of the work, intending to conform to that
model. When I found that this method was
likely to prove somewhat tedious, I had recourse
to another expedient; for by this time I had a
shop erected of bricks piled upon one another in so
miserable a manner, that the very remembrance
of it makes me uneasy. I began the arrange-

176 MEMOIRS OF
ment of the bones, or rather the figure of the
Medusa, and made the skeleton of iron. I after
wards made the figure of earth, and when I had
done this, I baked it hard by fire with the as
sistance of some of my little apprentices, one of
whom was of an extraordinary beauty ; this boy
was son to a woman named Gambetta. I kept
this child with a view of drawing his likeness,
(for there are no books that teach this art like
Nature herself,) and I inquired about for journey
men in order to dispatch the work the sooner;
but I could find none, and it was morally impos
sible for me to execute the work myself in all its
branches. There were some in Florence who
would willingly have entered into my service,
but Bandinello found means to prevent them.
Not satisfied with thus distressing me, he told the
duke that I endeavoured to decoy his workmen,
because I could never of myself contrive to put
a great figure together. I complained to the
duke of the ill offices done me by this fool ; and
begged he would procure me some journeymen
to assist me. These words made the duke be
lieve what was told him by Bandinello : perceiv
ing this, I resolved to do the best I could by
myself, and fell to work under the greatest dif
ficulties conceivable. Whilst I laboured in this
manner night and day, my sister's husband was
taken ill, and died in a few days. He left to my
care his wife, who was a young woman, with six
daughters, some of them grown up, and some

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 177
very little: this was the first trouble I had in
Florence, to be left father and guardian of a
whole afflicted and disconsolate family. Desi
rous, however, of carrying on my business in the
best way I could, and seeing my garden full of
dirt, I sent for two porters, who were brought to
me from the Old Bridge ; one of these was an
old man of seventy, the other a stripling of eigh
teen. When they had been with me about three
days, the young porter told me that the old
fellow would not work, and advised me to turn
him off, for he was not only idle himself, but the
cause of idleness in others, hindering him from
minding his business : he added, that the little
there was to be done, he was able to do himself,
and there was no occasion for my throwing away
my money. When I saw him so well disposed to
work, I asked him whether he was willing to live
with me as my servant ; and we were soon agreed.
This young man, whose name was Bernardino
Manellini of Mugello, took care of my horse,
worked in the garden, and even endeavoured to
assist me in the shop ; at last he began to learn
the art so well, that I never in my life had a
better servant. Resolving, therefore, to do the
whole business by his assistance, I began to
convince the duke that Bandinello was a liar,
and that I could do very well without the assist
ance of his journeymen.
I was about this time troubled with a pain in
my back, and being unable to work, was glad
VOL. II. N

178 MEMOIRS OF
to pass my time in the duke's wardrobe, with
two young goldsmiths, whose names were Gio-
van Paolo and Domenico Poggini*, whom I set to
make a little golden vase, wrought with a basso
rilievo of figures and other ornaments : this
belonged to the duchess, and her excellency had
it made to drink water out of. She desired me
likewise to make her a golden girdle, and more
over to adorn this work with jewels and many
pretty inventions of figures and other things of
that kind, which was done accordingly. The
duke came from time to time to the wardrobe,
and took great pleasure in seeing the work car
ried on, and in talking to me about it. When I
found myself somewhat recovered of the pain in
my back, I caused clay to be brought me,
and whilst the duke was thus occupied, I took
* Gio. Paolo and Domenico Poggini were brothers, and both
became artists of considerable distinction. The former excelled
in executing casts, and having entered into the service of
Philip II. of Spain, rivalled the famous Pompeo Leoni in striking
medals. The latter remained in his own country, and was em
ployed by the duke in his coinage and in striking medals. He
distinguished himself also as a sculptor, particularly on the
occasion of the funeral of Buonarroti, and on the occasion of
the nuptials of the Prince D. Francesco de' Medici with tlie
Archduchess Giovanna of Austria, which were celebrated in
1565. He worked in bronze as well as in marble, and also
cultivated a taste for poetry. A sonnet by him is inserted in
the first edition of the Trattato dell' Oreficeria by Cellini, in
praise of Cellini himself; but it has not any poetical merit.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 179
his likeness, making a head of him much bigger
than the life. His excellency was highly pleased
with this work, and conceived so great a liking
to me, that he told me it would be highly agree
able to him, if I would work at his palace ; and
he would look out for apartments of a proper
size for me, which I might have fitted up with
furnaces, and whatever else I had occasion for,
as he took the highest delight in such things. I
told his excellency that it was impossible, for I
should not then finish my work in a hundred years.
The duchess was lavish of her caresses to
me, and would gladly have had me work for her
alone, and neglect the statue of Perseus and every
thing else. I, who saw myself possessed of this
vain shadow of favour, knew to a certainty that
my inauspicious star could not long bear to see
me happy, and would soon involve me in new
perplexities ; for every moment I had present to
my thoughts the great injury I had done myself
in endeavouring to better my condition. I speak
with regard to my affairs in France. The King
could not digest the mortification which my de
parture had occasioned him ; and yet he would
have been glad that I had returned, but would
have me look upon it as an obligation. I thought,
however, that I had many good reasons to decline
being any way submissive ; for I apprehended that
had I descended so low as to serve the French
again with humility and complaisance, they
n 2

180 MEMOIRS OF
would have said that I knew myself to be in fault,
and have given credit to certain calumnies that
were invented against me. I therefore stood upon
the punctilio of honour, and wrote to France like
a man that knew himself to be in the right. This
conduct of mine was highly agreeable to my
two young disciples ; for in my letters to them I
boasted of the many works I was employed in by
two great personages, who were the chief in
power in the city of Florence, where I drew
my first breath. As soon as they had received
this intelligence, they repaired to the King, and
persuaded his majesty to make over to them my
castle, in the same manner he had granted it to
me. The King, who was a prince of great gene
rosity and honour, would never comply with the
presumptuous demands of these two young vil
lains ; for he began to perceive the malicious ten
dency of their application. However, that he
might seem to afford them some faint hopes, and
induce me to return quickly, he caused a trea
surer of his, named signor Giuliano Buonaccorsi,
a citizen of Florence, to write to me in a style
somewhat angry : the purport of the letter was,
that if I desired to retain that reputation of a
man of honour, which I had before enjoyed, as
I had quitted the kingdom without any cause, I
should give an account of all I had done for his
majesty. Upon the receipt of this letter, I was so highly
pleased, that I could not have wished for one

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 181
couched in terms more to my mind. When I sat
down to write, I filled nine leaves of common
paper, and in these I minuted all the works that
I had been concerned in, with the several acci
dents that had befallen me in the prosecution of
those undertakings, and all the money expended
on them, which was paid by two clerks, and one
of the King's treasurers, and signed by the dif
ferent persons through whose hands it had passed,
some of whom had contributed their property,
and others their labour. I added, that I had not
pocketed a single farthing of the money, arid that
when I had finished my work, I was not in the
least a gainer ; that I had carried with me to Italy
only a few favours and promises, truly worthy Of
his majesty; and though I could not boast of
having acquired by my works any thing more
than certain salaries settled upon me by his ma
jesty for my support, and there remained above
seven hundred crowns of my salary still due,
which I never touched, but left behind me in
France, that they might be remitted me to defray
the charges of my return ; yet as I had discover
ed that ill offices had been done me by certain
malevolent persons, excited thereto by envy,
(though the truth will always be prevalent) I ap
pealed to his most christian majesty. " I am
not excited," said I, " by avarice : I am conscious
of having done for your majesty more than ever I
engaged to perform, and I have never received
the promised reward. I desire nothing more in

182 MEMOIRS OF
this world than to remain in the opinion of your
majesty a man of a fair and unblemished charac
ter, such as I have always shewn myself; and if
your majesty retains the smallest doubt of
my integrity, I will, upon your signifying the
least desire of it, return to France to give an
account of my conduct at the hazard of my life.
But, as I saw myself held in so little considera
tion, I did not care to make a new offer of my
services, being sensible that I can earn a liveli
hood in any part of the world ; and whenever I
am written to, I shall send a proper answer."
There were in that letter several other particulars
worthy of so great a monarch, and tending to
vindicate my honour. Before I sent it away, I
carried it to the duke, who was highly pleased
with the perusal ; I then put it in the post-office,
directed to the Cardinal of Ferrara.
About this time Bernardone Baldini, who was
employed by his excellency as broker in the
jewelling business, had brought with him from
Venice a large diamond of above thirty-five
carats. He had with him Antonio di Vittorio
Landi, whose interest it likewise was to prevail
on the duke to purchase it. This diamond had
its upper face terminating in a point; but, as it
did not appear to have the lustre required in a
jewel of that sort, the owner got the point made
flat, which greatly spoiled the beauty of the
stone. Our duke, who was passionately fond of
jewels, amused that rogue Bernardone with

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 183
hopes that he would purchase the diamond ; and
as the fellow was desirous of having solely to
himself the honour of putting a trick upon the
duke of Florence, he never spoke a word of the
affair to his partner Antonio Landi. This An
tonio had been intimate with me ever since we
were boys, and as he saw I was so familiar with
the duke, he one day called me aside, (it was
then about noon, and this happened near the new
market), and spoke to me thus : " Benvenuto, I
know full well that the duke will shew you a
diamond which he seems to be desirous of pur
chasing. You will see a very fine stone : endea
vour to promote the sale of it ; this I could sell
for seventeen thousand crowns. I am positive
his excellency will ask your advice, and it is
very possible he may purchase it." In short,
Antonio was very sanguine in his expectations of
being a great gainer by this diamond. I pro
mised, that in case it was shewn me, and my
opinion asked, I should speak of it to the best of
my judgment, without saying any thing to de
preciate its value. The duke, as I have observed
above, came every day into my work-shop, and
stayed there several hours. Somewhat above a
week from the day that Antonio Landi had the
above conversation with me, his excellency shewed
me the diamond in question one day after dinner.
I knew it by the tokens given me by Antonio
Landi, with regard both to its form and its
weight ; and because, as I have observed above,

184 MEMOIRS OF
this diamond was of a water somewhat obscure,
and they had upon that account furbished it up
anew, I, seeing of what sort it was, would cer
tainly have advised the duke not to purchase it.
Therefore, when his excellency shewed it me, I
asked him what he would have me say of it, as
jewellers had two different methods of appreci
ating a jewel, one after a great man had bought
it, and another in setting a price upon it, in
order to excite him to be a purchaser. The duke
told me that he had bought it, and only wanted
to know my opinion concerning it : I thereupon
declared my sentiments of the diamond to the
best of my judgment. He desired me to consi
der well the beauty of the great streaks in it. I
made answer that his excellency was quite mis
taken in considering that as a beauty/ for it was
nothing else but a flattened point. Upon my
uttering these words, the duke, who perceived
that what I said was true, with a look of great
displeasure bade me examine the jewel carefully,
and give my opinion concerning its value. I
imagined that as Antonio Landi had valued it at
seventeen thousand crowns, the duke might have
given at most fifteen thousand for it ; and, there
fore, as I saw that he was offended at my speak
ing the truth, I thought it advisable to favour
his mistake, and so returning him the diamond,
said, " It cost you eighteen thousand crowns."
Upon my speaking thus, he made an exclama
tion of surprise — an Oh ! with a mouth as wide

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 185
as a draw-well, and said, " Surely you can be
no connoisseur in jewels." I answered, " My
lord, you are mistaken; endeavour to continue
in a good humour with your diamond, and I will
endeavour to understand these things better : at
least be so good as to let me know how much
it cost you, that I may the better enter intp your
excellency's method of purchasing these things."
The duke thereupon said to me with a sneer, " It
cost five-and-twenty thousand crowns and up
wards," and so went away. During this conver
sation were present Giovan Paolo and Domenico
Poggini, both goldsmiths ; and Bacchiaca the
embroiderer, who worked in the next apartment,
ran to us upon hearing it. I then said, that I
would not have advised him against purchasing
it, but that Antonio Landi had a week before
offered it to me for seventeen thousand crowns ;
and I apprehended that I might have bought it
for fifteen thousand and less : but the duke was
resolved to keep up the reputation of his jewel
at any rate. However, as Antonio Landi had
set so inconsiderable a value upon it, I thought
it was shocking, nay, I could hardly believe it
possible, that Bernardone should have so grossly
imposed upon the duke. Yet, hardly thinking
it- could be true, I took no farther notice of the
affair, but smiled at the good prince's simplicity.
Having already sketched the figure of the great
Medusa, as I have observed above, I made the
skeleton of iron, then forming the figure of earth

186 MEMOIRS OF
about half an inch thick, I caused it to be well
baked, and over it I put a covering of wax in order
to finish it completely in the manner it was in
tended to remain. The duke, who came several
times to see me, was greatly disgusted at its not
being of bronze, and would have had me send for
some master to cast it.
His excellency was constantly speaking in the
most advantageous terms of my genius and skill,
while his steward was as constantly watching for
some opportunity to hurt me. This man, though
a native of Prato, the natural enemy of our state,
was by a surprising turn of fortune, only because
he had been the pedagogue of duke Cosmo de'
Medici, invested with a command over the city-
guards and all the public offices in Florence. As
I before observed, he was always upon the watch
to do me some injury, but found it a very difficult
matter to form his plans with any probability of
success : he at last thought of a sure way to ruin
me, by bribing the mother of my young appren
tice (whose name was Cencio, as her's was Gam
betta,) to charge me with a horrible crime, in
hopes that the fear of a prosecution would induce
me to leave the city. But having convinced them
by my determined conduct, that I was not to be
so easily intimidated, I thrust them out of my
house, and at once put an end to their hopes from
this infamous project.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 187

CHAPTER XIV.

The Author, disgusted at the behaviour of the duke's servants,
takes a trip to Venice, where he is greatly caressed by Titian,
Sansovino, and other ingenious artists — After a short stay he
returns to Florence and resumes his business — He goes on
but slowly with his Perseus for want of proper assistance, and
makes his complaint to the duke — The duchess employs
him in jewellery, and wishes to engross his whole time ; but he
expresses a desire of signalizing himself, and with that view
chooses to finish his Perseus.
Having reflected maturely on the villainy as
well as power of that wicked pedagogue, I thought
it most advisable to keep for a time out of the
way of such diabolical machinations ; so in the
morning early I put into the hands of my sister
jewels and effects to the value of nearly two
thousand crowns, and mounting on horseback,
bent my course towards Venice, carrying with
me my journeyman Bernardino di Mugello. Upon
my arrival at Ferrara, I wrote to his excellency
the duke, that though I had left Florence without

188 MEMOIRS OF
taking leave of him, I would return without being
sent for.
When I came to Venice, I reflected upon the
variety of means by which my adverse fortune
persecuted me, but as I found myself in good
health and spirits, I resolved to struggle with it
as usual. Thus I passed my time very agreeably
in that beautiful and opulent city, where I visited
the great painter Titian, and signor Giacopo San
sovino, an excellent statuary and architect of
Florence, who had a considerable pension from
the senate of Venice. As we had been acquainted
in our youth both at Rome and Florence, I was
highly caressed by these two ingenious artists.*
* Tiziano Vecelli and Sansovino were then living in high es
timation in Venice, and being both eminent in their profession
so they were also great friends. Vecelli was born in Pieve di
Cadore, in 1477, and was educated in Venice under Gio. Bellini,
the rival of the celebrated Giorgione (Giorgio Barbarella di
Castel Franco). He surpassed most of the painters of his time
in the force of his colouring, in design, and in many other parts
of his art. He was, throughout a life which was prolonged to
nearly the age of 99 years, one ofthe most fortunate artists that
ever lived. Men of letters, princes, and even cities, vied with
each other in loading him with honours and riches; and Charles
V. particularly declared himself indebted to him three times for
immortality, since he had as often drawn his portrait ; and ob
serving that he was envied by his courtiers, who thought that
their titles of nobility should secure them from a competition in
public esteem with a painter, he observed to them, that he him
self could create dukes, oounts, and nobles, by hundreds, but
that God alone could form a Tiziano. Vecelli, nevertheless,
would never abandon Venice, but lived there in splendour and

• BENVENUTO CELLINI. 189
The day following I met signor Lorenzo de' Me
dici, who took me by the hand, and received me
with the greatest affection imaginable. We had
known one another in Florence when I was con
cerned in stamping coins for duke Alessandro, and
afterwards at Paris, when I was in the service
of the King of France. He had resided at the
house of signor Giuliano Buonaccorsi; and because
he did not know where else to go for amusement,
without running a considerable risk, he passed a
great deal of his time at my house, in observing
the process of the great works above-mentioned.*
On account, therefore, of our former acquaintance,
he took me by the hand, and carried me with
him to his own house, where was signor Priore
degli Strozzi, brother to signor Piero f : they
in the enjoyment of his liberty ; and the Venetian senate so
highly esteemed him and Sansovino, that on the occasion of a
general impost upon the inhabitants of Venice, these two citizens
alone were declared exempt.
* Mention has already frequently been made of this Lorenzo
di Pier Francesco de' Medici. He undoubtedly had continual
reason to fear for his life ; for an enormous price had been set
on his head, and being continually followed by the emissaries of
the duke Cosmo, his cousin in the second degree, in spite of the
caution and circumspection with which he lived, he was at last
betrayed into the hands of two assassins, and stabbed with poi
soned daggers in Venice, on the 26th February, 1548.
t The prior here alluded to was Leone Strozzi, knight of
Jerusalem, and prior of Capua, who, according to Mecatti, had
come from Marseilles to Venice in 1546, for the purpose of a
conference with Francesco Burlamacchi di Lucca, who, filled

190 MEMOIRS OF
were very merry, and asked me how long I pro
posed staying at Venice, thinking that I intended
to return to France. I told them the affair that
had made me quit Florence ; and added that I pro
posed returning to that city in two or three days,
to enter again into the service of my sovereign the
grand duke. When I had expressed myself thus,
signor Priore and signor Lorenzo looked so sternly
at me, that I was quite disconcerted : they then
with the ancient republican maxims, as well as with the novel
doctrines of the Protestants, meditated no less than to excite
the whole of Tuscany and Italy to a revolt ; and he had requested
the aid of the Strozzi to effect his purpose. Leone promised to
assist him with twenty-five thousand crowns, and to induce his
brother Piero to enter to a certain extent upon the undertaking.
But the duke Cosmo and the Emperor Charles V. had early in
formation of the plot, and Burlamacchi himself, although after
his return to Lucca he had been created gonfaloniere, was seized,
and perished in Milan by the hands ofthe executioner.
The prior Strozzi is celebrated in the annals of maritime
warfare. The flattering hopes of renewing the Florentine re
public induced him, as well as the rest of his family, to devote
himself to France ; and he was entrusted, in 1 540, with the com
mand of six galleys. He had distinguished himself at the cap
ture of Nice in August 1548, and had afterwards been at Con
stantinople, for the purpose of joining the Turkish fleet com
manded by Barbarossa. In order to ingratiate the King of France
with the Grand Signior, Soliman II., he undertook, in 1545, the
command of the fleet, of which mention has previously been
made. At the time of this journey to Venice, he was stationed
at Marseilles to defend the coast against Andrea Doria. Having
been sent by Henry IL, in 1547, to succour the regent of Scot
land, he retook the castle of St. Andrew from the rebels, and

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 191
said, "You would act much more wisely in return
ing to France, where you have both money and
friends : if you go back to Florence, you will lose
all your interest in France, and at Florence you
will only meet with disgust and disappointment."
I made them no answer, but set out the next day
with all possible secrecy, taking the road to Flo
rence. In the mean time the diabolical plot that had
been hatched against me, was pretty well over,
fought against the English during the two following years, along
with his brother Piero, and the celebrated Montalembert signor di
Esse. In spite of these services Leone found, in 1550, that the
constable Anne de Montmorenci, who was become the idol of
Henry IL, was attempting to raise to the office of admiral of
France a relation, under whom Leone could not serve consis
tently with his honour ; and having for these reasons laid his
pretensions before the King, he had reason to believe that his
life was exposed to danger. He, therefore, on the 16th Septem
ber, 1551, retired from Marseilles without having received his
dismissal, and passed over to Malta with two galleys of his own,
declaring that he would no longer fight but against the infidels,
which he did with great success for three years, in spite of his
repeated recal to France, and the invitations and flattering offers
of the Emperor. In 1554, however, on the breaking out ofthe
war of Sienna, which we shall hereafter see was entrusted entirely
to the management of Pietro Strozzi, in hopes of succeeding at
last in effecting a change in the government of Florence, Leone
yielded, and hastened to the seat of war ; but whilst he was re
connoitring the small fort of Scarlino, in the principality of
Piombino, he was killed by a shot from a musket. Lorenzino
de' Medici was intimately connected with the Strozzi, two of his
sisters having married into that family, one to Pietro and the
other to Roberto, both brothers of Leone.

192 MEMOIRS OF
for I had written the duke a full account of the
affair, and the reason of my quitting Florence. I
waited on him without any ceremony ; and though
he discovered some displeasure at first, he at last
turned to me with a placid countenance, and
asked me where I had been ? I made answer, that
my heart had always been with his excellency,
though a certain troublesome affair had obliged
me to ramble for a while. His good humour grow
ing upon him, he desired me to give him some
account of Venice ; so we entered into conversa
tion for a while, till at last he bid me mind my
work, and finish the statue of Perseus. I re
turned to my house in high spirits, which caused
great joy to my family, that is, to my sister and
her six daughters. I then resumed my work, and
continued it with all possible expedition.
The first thing I cast in bronze, was the great
head of his excellency in my workshop, when I
had the pain in my back, which has been
mentioned above. This work gave high sa
tisfaction, and I made it with no other view
than to try the earth used in casting bronze ;
and though I perceived that the admirable Dona
tello had cast his works in bronze with the earth
of Florence, it appeared to me that he had great
difficulties to struggle with. Thinking, there
fore, that this proceeded from the ill condition of
the earth, before I set about casting my Perseus,
I chose to make these previous experiments, by
which I found the earth to be good, though the

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 193
nature of it was not understood by the great Do
natello, for I observed he had been under great
difficulties in finishing his pieces. Thus did I
contrive by great art to make a compound earth,
which was of infinite service to me : with this I
cast the head ; but as I had not yet made a fur
nace, I used that of signor Zanobi di Pagno Cam-
panajo ; and seeing that the head had come out
very exact, I immediately set about making a
little furnace in the shop, which the duke had
caused to be erected according to my own plan,
in the house he had granted me. After making the
furnace with all possible expedition, I commenced
casting the statue of Medusa, that distorted
female figure which is now seen under the feet of
Perseus; and as this was a matter of great diffi
culty, I found it necessary to make use of all the
precautions I had learnt, to avoid committing any
blunder. Thus had I the most complete success
at the first time of my casting in this furnace, and
the bronzo came out of it so neat and clean, that
my friends did not think I should have occasion
to retouch it. There are German and French ar
tists who boast of admirable secrets, which, they
say, enable them to cast bronze without being
obliged to clean it afterwards : but this is an ab
surd pretension ; for after the bronze is cast, it is
necessajryJ;o clean and furbish it up with hammers
and chisels, as the great artists of antiquity did
formerly, and as modern statuaries have done
vol. n. o

194 MEMOIRS OF
likewise— I mean such of the moderns as under
stood the art of working in bronze.
This work highly pleased the duke, who came
to see it cast at my house, and encouraged me to
exert myself; but the unquenchable envy of
Bandinello had such power, for he was con
stantly misrepresenting me to his excellency, as
to persuade him that, though I cast some of those
figures, I should never be able to put the whole
of them together, because I was quite a novice
in the art, and his excellency should take care
how he threw away his money. These words
had such an effect upon my noble employer, that
part of the money allowed me for journeymen
was retrenched, insomuch that I found myself
under a necessity of coming to an explanation
with his excellency. One morning I took occa
sion to wait his coming, in the Via de' Servi, and
addressed him in these terms : " My lord,
I am not assisted in my business as my oc
casions require : I therefore begin to suspect
that your excellency doubts my being able to
perform my promise ; yet I must repeat it
to you again, that I desire to finish the work
in a manner far more masterly than the
model, as I have already promised." Having
thus explained my mind to his excellency, when
I perceived that all I said had no effect upon
him, as he returned no answer, I immediately
conceived such resentment and fell into so violent
a passion, that I again addressed the duke, say-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 195
ing : " My lord, this city has been indeed the
school of every ingenious art; but as soon as a
person has made himself known and learnt some
thing, if he desires to be a credit to his country
and his illustrious prince, he would do well to
seek for work elsewhere. I am convinced, my
lord, that this is true : I know that your excel
lency has been acquainted with Donatello and
Lionardo da Vinci, and at present is so with the
admirable Michel Angelo Buonarroti ; men who
by their genius add greatly to your excellency's
glory and renown. I also hope that I shall con
tribute my share towards it ; therefore, my good
lord, suffer me to depart. But take care never to
let Bandinello move from hence ; rather let him
have greater supplies than he requires of you ;
for if he should go abroad, so great is bis pre
sumption and ignorance, that he would probably
bring this illustrious school into discredit- Dis
miss me then, my lord : the only reward I desire
for my past labours is your excellency's good
will-" The duke, seeing me thus resolute, turned to
me with some emotion, and said : " Benvenuto,
if you are willing to finish the work, you shall
want no assistance." I made answer that I de*
sired nothing more than to shew those detractors
of my reputation, that I had a spirit to perform
my promise. Having left his excellency, I re
ceived some little assistance ; but found myself
under a necessity of opening my purse, as I was

196 MEMOIRS OF
desirous that my work should go on pretty briskly.
In the evening I often went to his excellency's
wardrobe, where Domenico and Giovanni Pog
gini his brother were at work upon a golden vase
for the duchess, of which mention has already
been made, and upon a golden girdle. His ex
cellency likewise caused a little model to be
made of a pendant, in which was to be set that
great diamond which Bernardone and Antonio
Landi persuaded him to purchase ; and though it
was what I should willingly have declined, the
duke used such insinuations and arguments, that
he used to prevail upon me to work there till ten
o'clock at night, and by the same alluring arts
would have fain persuaded me to work also by
day. This I could never consent to, for which
I at last thought that his excellency was angry
with me. As I happened one day to come a little
later than usual, the duke said to me, " You are
malvenuto *." I answered, " My lord, that is not
my name, for I am called Benvenuto ; and as I
apprehend that your excellency jests with me, I
shall say nothing more.'' The duke replied that
he was not in jest, but quite in earnest, adding,
that he advised me to take care how I behaved,
for it had come to his knowledge that I had
availed myself of his favour to wrong several per
sons. I requested his excellency to name a man
that I had ever wronged. He immediately flew

An Italian word which signilics unwelcome.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 197
into a passion and said: " Go and restore what
you have had from Bernardone : that is one man
you have wronged." I answered, " My lord,
I thank you, and beg you would just hear me
say four words in my defence : it is true he lent
me a pair of old scales, two anvils and three
little hammers, which goods I, fifteen years ago,
desired his agent Giorgio da Cortona to send for,
whereupon Giorgio came for them himself. If
your excellency finds that I ever had any thing
else from any person either in Rome or Florence,
punish me with the utmost severity.
The duke, seeing me very warm, became quite
mild and gentle, and said that those who have
not done amiss should not be reprimanded; so
that, if the case were as I represented it, I should
continue to be as much in favour with him as
ever. I then answered, " The knaveries of Ber
nardone force me to request and intreat your ex
cellency to tell me sincerely, what you gave for
the great diamond with the flattened point ; for I
hope to make you sensible of this rogue's motive
for doing me ill offices with your excellency."
The duke replied : " The diamond cost me
twenty-five thousand crowns : why do you ask?"
I told him, " Because, my lord, on such a day,
and at such an hour, Antonio di Vittorio Landi,
speaking to me of this diamond, valued it at six
teen thousand crowns. Your excellency now
knows what sort of a bargain you have had ; and
for the truth of what I say, I appeal to Domenico

198 MEMOIRS OF
Poggini and Giovan Paolo his brother, who are
here present, for I immediately apprised them of
the affair; but since that, I have never said a
word more about it, because your excellency
told me that I did not understand jewels, which
made me think you had a mind to keep up
the reputation of your purchase. Be assured,
my lord, that I do understand jewels, and that
I profess myself a man of principle, and of
as much honour as any person living. I shall
never attempt to rob you of eight or ten thousand
crowns at a time, but rather try to earn them. I
agreed to serve your excellency as a sculptor, a
goldsmith, a stamper of coins, but never as a tale
bearer, nor do I wish the fourth part of the fine
due to an informer. What I say to you at pre
sent is in my own defence, and in the presence
of several persons of worth, that your excellency
may no longer believe what is said by Bernar
done." The duke thereupon fell into a passion,
and sent for Bernardone, who was obliged to fly
to Venice, and Antonio Landi with him. When
they returned from Venice, Antonio said, that the
diamond sold to the duke was not the one he
shewed me in the market-place. I again waited
on his excellency, and said to him, " My lord, all
I told you is true, and all that Bernardone men
tioned concerning the goods I borrowed is false,
and you would do well to examine the affair to
the bottom, and I will go to give order to the
city-guard." Upon my expressing myself thus,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 199
the duke turned about to me, and said, " Benve
nuto, live like a man of honour, and fear nothing."
The affair ended here, and I never said another
word concerning it.
I set about finishing the jewel, and when I had
done it I carried it to the duchess, who told me
she set as high a value upon my work, as upon
fhe diamond which Bernardone had made the
duke purchase. She then desired me to fasten it
to her breast with my own hand ; and upon her
giving me a large pin I pinned it on, and de
parted very much in her good graces. I after
wards heard they caused it to be set again by a
German, or some other foreigner, because Ber
nardone had said that the simplest manner of set
ting it was best. Domenico and Giovan Paolo
Poggini, goldsmiths and brothers, worked, as I
think I have already informed the reader, in his
excellency's wardrobe, after my designs, upon
certain little cases of gold, carved with historical
figures in basso rilievo, and other things of im
portance. I one day took occasion to say to the
duke, " My lord, if you would enable me to keep
several journeymen, I would stamp the coins at
your mint, as likewise medals of your excellency,
in which I should rival if not surpass those of the
ancients ; for since I was employed in making
medals for Pope Clement the Seventh, I have im
proved so considerably in this art, that I come
much nearer to perfection than I did at that time;
I am even able to surpass the coins which I

200 MEMOIRS OF
stamped for duke Alessandro, though they are
still looked upon as very fine. I would likewise
make great vases of gold for you, as I did for the
great King Francis the First, who afforded me
all manner of assistance in my business, and I
never lost my time either in making Colossuses
or other statues." To this the duke replied,
" Work, Benvenuto, and I will take care to see
you properly supplied." Yet he never gave me
any assistance, or supplied me with conveniences
for working.
One day his excellency sent me several pounds
of fine silver, and said that it was from his silver
mines*, desiring me to make him a beautiful cup
with it. As I did not choose to neglect my Per
seus, and yet had a great desire to serve the duke, I
put it into the hands of a fellow called Pier de Mar
tini the goldsmith, together wTith my designs and
models in wax. He set about it most awkwardly,
and did not go on with it, so that I lost more
time by employing him than if I had undertaken
it myself. Having been thus plagued and disap
pointed for several months, when I saw that Piero
would neither work at it himself, nor get others
to do it, I made him return it ; and it was with
great difficulty I could get back the body of the
* The silver mines worked by the duke Cosmo, were, one at
Campiglia, and the other, whicli was much superior, at Pietra
santa. That prince, who sought every means of encreasing his
riches, sent in 1547, for Gio. Zeglier from Hungary, with many
other skilful miners, to work the different mines in his states.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 201
vase, wliich, as I have observed above, was un
skilfully begun, and the remainder of the silver
which I had put into his hands. The duke, hav
ing heard something of the affair, sent for the vase
and the models, without ever telling me why or
wherefore. He, however, from my designs, got
people to work for him at Venice and other places,
but was extremely ill served. The duchess was in
cessantly requesting me to work for her in the jew
elling way : to this I as constantly answered, that
it was well known to all the world in general, and
to all Italy in particular, that I was a master of
the jeweller's business ; but that Italy had not hi
therto seen a piece of sculpture of my workman
ship ; and that several statuaries, provoked at my
vying with them, called me in derision the upstart
sculptor : however I hoped to shew them, that I
had the skill of an old and experienced sculptor,
if God should so far indulge me, as to enable me
to exhibit my statue of Perseus in his excellency's
grand square. So I went home, worked hard
both day and night, and no more made my ap
pearance at the palace. But that I might not be
entirely deprived of the duchess's favour, I got
certain little vases of silver made for her, about
the size of a little two-penny pot, adorned with
fine figures in the antique taste. Upon my carry
ing her these little vases, she gave me the kindest
reception imaginable, and paid me for the gold
and silver that I had used in making them. At
the same time I solicited her excellency's interest,

202 MEMOIRS OF
and begged she would inform the duke that I
was not properly assisted in my great work ; and
that she would likewise advise him to be upon his
guard against the malicious insinuations of Bandi
nello, by which he hindered me from finishing my
Perseus. Upon my expressing myself thus in a
plaintive tone, the duchess shrugging her shoul
ders, exclaimed, " Sure the duke should by this
time know what a worthless fellow that Bandi
nello is 1"

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 203

CHAPTER XV.
Bandinello throws more difficulties in the Author's way — In a fit
of despair he goes to Fiesole, to see a natural son of his, and
meets with Bandinello at his return— At first he resolves to kill
him, but upon seeing his cowardly behaviour alters his mind,
and recovering his former tranquillity goes on with his work
— Conversation between him and tlie duke, concerning an
antique Greek statue of Ganymede — Account of some marble
statues of Cellini's, viz. Apollo, Hyacinthus, and Narcissus —
He meets with an accident by which he had nearly lost one of
his eyes — Manner of his recovery.
I now stayed almost constantly at home, and
hardly ever went to the ducal palace, but worked
with the utmost assiduity to finish my statue. I
was obliged to pay my workmen out of my own
pocket; for the duke, having caused them to be
paid about eighteen months for me by Lattanzio
Gorini, at last grew tired of it, and ordered pay
ment to be stopped. I thereupon asked Lattanzio,
why he did not pay my men as usual ? He an
swered with the shrill voice of a gnat, and using
some odd, fantastic gestures with his spider's
hands, " Why don't you get your work finished ?

204 MEMOIRS OF
It is the general opinion that you will never finish
it." I answered him passionately, uttering hor
rid imprecations against him, and all those that
thought I should not complete it. Thus in deep
despair I returned home to my unfortunate statue
of Perseus, not without shedding tears; for I
could not help recollecting the flourishing state
in which I had lived in Paris, when in the service
of the munificent King Francis, by whom I was
abundantly supplied with every thing; whereas
here I was hardly supplied at all. This considera
tion had such an effect upon me, that I was seve
ral times upon the point of forming a desperate
resolution to leave the place abruptly.
Once, in particular, I mounted a little nag, and
taking a hundred crowns with me, set out for
Fiesole, to see a natural son whom I had at nurse
with a gossip of mine, wife to one of my journey
men. I found the child in good health; and
though L was greatly dejected, and uneasy in
my mind, I embraced him. When I was for de
parting, he would not let me go, but held me fast
with his little hands, at the same time crying and
screaming so loud, that it was something surpris
ing in an infant not above two years old. How
ever, as I had formed a resolution in case I could
meet with Bandinello, who went every evening to
visit his farm above St. Domenico, to fall upon
him, and punish his insolence, I disengaged my
self from my child, regardless of his cries and
sobs, and bent my course towards Florence. Just

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 205
as I arrived at the square of St. Domenico, Ban
dinello entering it on the other side, I came up
to him with a full resolution to take a sanguinary
vengeance upon the spot. I looked up, and saw
him upon a little mule, which appeared no bigger
than an ass ; and he had with him a boy about ten
years of age. As soon as he perceived me, he
turned as pale as death, and trembled all over. I
who knew what a cowardly wretch he was, cried
out to him, " Fear nothing, vile poltroon, I do
not think you worth striking." He gave me a
look of the most abject pusillanimity, and re
turned no answer. I thereupon resumed just and
virtuous sentiments, and returned thanks to the
Almighty for preventing me from perpetrating the
rash action I intended. Being in this manner
delivered from the diabolical frenzy by which I
had been agitated, I recovered my spirits, and
said within myself, ,k If God should be so favour
able to me as to enable me to finish my work, I
hope thereby to kill all my enemies, and wreak a
much greater and more glorious vengeance, than
if I had satiated my fury upon one alone." So
with this good resolution I returned home, some
what easier in my mind.
In three days' time I received information that
the. nurse had accidentally smothered my only
son, which occasioned me as poignant a grief as
ever I had felt. Hearing the news, I fell upon
my knees, and returned thanks to God with a
profusion of tears, according to my custom, say-

206 MEMOIRS OF
ing, " Lord, thou gavest that infant to me, and
now thou hast deprived me of him : for all thou
hast done, I return thanks to thy divine majesty."
Thus, though the excess of my grief had quite
disconcerted and confounded me, I made a virtue
of necessity, and comforted myself as well as I
could. About this time a young man had quitted
Bandinello's service, whose name was Francesco,
son to Matteo Fabbro : this young man applied to
me for work, and I readily employed him to clean
the statue of Medusa, which was already cast.
The same person, about a fortnight after, told me,
that he had spoken to his master, meaning Ban
dinello, who desired him to tell me, that if I were
willing to make a marble statue, he would furnish
me with a fine block. I instantly answered,
" Tell him I accept his offer, and it may prove an
unlucky piece of marble for him, for he is always
provoking me, and does not remember what passed
between us upon the square of St. Domenico. Let
him know I insist upon having the marble by all
means. I never speak ill of him, while he is al
ways backbiting and traducing me ; nay, I verily
believe, that your coming to work with me was a
mere pretext, and that in fact you were sent by
him to be a spy upon my conduct. So go and tell
him I will have the marble in spite of him, and
you may return again to his service."
As I had not for several days made my appear
ance at the ducal palace, I went thither one
morning through a sudden caprice, and the duke

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 207
had just done dinner when I entered. I was
afterwards given to understand the duke had that
morning spoken much of me, and in terms highly
advantageous to my character : in particular he
had extolled me highly for my masterly manner
of setting jewels. When the duchess saw me,
she sent signor Sforza to call me, and upon my
presenting myself before her excellency, she re
quested me to set a little rose diamond for her in
a ring; adding, that she intended to wear it
constantly. She gave me the measure of her
finger, together with the diamond, which was
worth about a hundred crowns, and begged I
would be as expeditious as possible. The duke-
thereupon said to the duchess, " It must be
acknowledged that Benvenuto was formerly un
rivalled in this branch; but now that he has
dropped it, I apprehend it would be too much
trouble for him to make such a ring as you re
quire. Therefore I beg you would not break in
upon his time with this trifling affair, which is
now so much out of his way." I returned the
duke thanks for his obliging speech, and re
quested him to let me do the duchess this little
piece of service ; so I undertook the work, and
finished it in a few days. The ring was intended
fqr the little finger. I therefore made four small
figures of boys, with four little grotesques, which
completed the ring, and I added to it a few fruits
and ligatures in enamel, so that the jewel and the
ring appeared admirably suited to each other.

208 MEMOIRS OF
I carried it directly to the duchess, who told me
in the most obliging manner that I had acquitted
myself extremely well, and that she would not
forget me. This ring she sent as a present to
king Philip ; and afterwards was constantly em
ploying me in one work or other, but in so com
plaisant and obliging a manner, that I always
exerted myself to the utmost to serve her, though
I saw but very little of her money. And yet God
knows I wanted money very much ; for I ear
nestly desired to finish my Perseus, and I had
found some young men to assist me, whom 1
paid out of my own pocket. I then began to
make my appearance at court more frequently
than I had done for some time past.
One holiday I went to the palace immediately
after dinner, and entering the hall in which the
great clock stands, I saw the door of the ward
robe open. As I presented myself, the duke
beckoned to me, and with great complaisance
addressed me thus : "You are welcome to court:
(alluding to my name of Benvenuto) take this
little chest which was sent me as a present by
signor Stefano of Palestrina* : open it and let us
see what it contains. I instantly opened it, and
* Stefano Colonna, who was descended from the Princess of
Palestrine, a pupil in the military art of the celebrated Prospero
Colonna his relation, distinguished himself in his early years at
Milan, at Bicocca, and in the Genoese territory, in battle
against the French. He passed in 1527, by the advice of Cle-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 209
answered the duke : "This, my lord, is the figure
bf a little boy, in Greek marble, and is indeed a
very extraordinary piece. I don't remember ever
having seen amongst the antiques so beautiful a
performance, or one of so exquisite a taste : I
therefore offer your excellency to restore its head,
arms, and feet, and make an eagle for it, that it
may be called a Ganymede ; and though it is by
no means proper for me to patch up old statues,
as that is generally done by a sort of bunglers in
the business, who acquit themselves very indif
ferently, the excellence of this great master is
such, that it powerfully excites me to do him
this piece of service. " The duke was highly
ment VII. into the service of France, and fought along with
Lautrec in Italy, in 1528, and under the Marshal de Montmo
renci, in Provence, in 1536. He was employed by Paul III.
in 1538, in the war which he was carrying on against the duke
d'Urbino for the city of Camerino; and finally in 1542, being
dissatisfied with France, he withdrew his services from that
country,- even surrendering the dignity of the order of St.
Michael, with whicli he had been honoured, and devoted himself
to the duke Cosmo de' Medici, who appointed him his Lieutenant
General. He conducted a troop of four thousand soldiers into
Germany, where he became the Quarter-Master-Gene'ral of
Charles at the taking of Cleves. Having returned into Italy,
he defended the Tuscan shore from Barbarossa in 1544, and
died in the beginning of the year 1548, at Pisa.- This soldier,
whose inconstancy in warfare, common to many others of his
countrymen, may be attributed to the circumstances of Italy in
those times, rather than to any defect in his character, was also
a judicious admirer of the fine arts.
VOL. II. r

210 MEMOIRS OF
pleased to find the figure had such merit, and
asked me several questions about it : " Tell me,
said he, " Benvenuto, in what precisely consists
the extraordinary excellence of this great master,
which excites in you such wonder and surprise."
I endeavoured as well as I could to give him an
idea of the extraordinary beauty of the statue,
of the great genius, skill, and admirable manner
of the artist, conspicuous in his work ; topics on
which I enlarged a long time, and that with the
greater earnestness, as I perceived that his excel
lency took pleasure in listening to me.
Whilst I amused him so agreeably with my
conversation, a page happened to open the door
of the wardrobe; and just as he came out Bandi
nello entered. The duke, seeing him, appeared
to be in some disorder, and asked him with a
stern look, what he was about? Bandinello, with
out making any answer, immediately fixed his
eye on the little chest, in which the above-men
tioned statue was very plainly to be seen ; then
shaking his head, he turned to the duke, and
said with a scornful sneer, " My lord, this is
one of those things I have so often spoke to your
excellency about. Depend upon it, the ancients
knew nothing of the anatomy of the parts, and
for that reason their works abound with errors."
I stood silent, and gave no attention to what he had
advanced, but on the contrary turned my back to
him. When the fool had made an end of his non
sensical harangue, the duke, addressing himself to

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 211
me, said, " Benvenuto, this is quite the reverse
of what you a while ago so much boasted, and
seemed to prove by so many specious arguments :
so endeavour to defend your own cause." To
these words of the duke, which were spokeU
with great mildness, I answered : " My lord,
your excellency is to understand that Baccio
Bandinello is a compound of every thing that is
bad, and so he has always been ; insomuch that
whatever he looks at is by his fascinating eyes,
however superlatively good in itself, immediately
converted into something supremely evil : but I
who am inclined to good alone, see the truth
through a happier medium : so that all I men
tioned a while ago to your excellency concerning
that beautiful figure is strictly and literally true,
and what Bandinello has said of it is purely the
result of his own innate malevolence." The duke
seemed to hear me with pleasure ; and whilst I
expressed myself thus, Bandinello writhed him
self into a variety of contortions, and made his
face, which was by nature very ugly, quite
hideous by his frightful grimaces. Immediately
the duke, quitting the hall, went down to the
ground-floor apartments^ and Bandinello after
him ; the gentlemen of the bed-chamber, pulling
me by the cloak, encouraged me to follow him ;
so we followed the duke till he sat liimself down
in one ofthe rooms, and. Bandinello and I placed
ourselves one on his right, the other on the left.
I remained silent, and many of the duke's ser-
p2

212 MEMOIRS OF
vants who stood round, Hcept their eyes fixed on
Bandinello, tittering when they recollected what
I had said to him in the hall above. Bandinello
again began to chatter, and said, that when he
exhibited his Hercules and Cacus to the public,
he really believed there were above a hundred
lampoons published against him, which contained
all the vilest ribaldry that could enter into the
imagination of the rabble.* To this I answered,
" My lord, when your great artist Michel Angelo
Buonarroti exhibited his Sacristy, in which so
many beautiful figures are to be seen, the mem
bers of the admirable school of Florence, which
loves and encourages genius wherever it displays
itself, published above a hundred sonnets, wherein
they vied with each other which should praise
him mostf: and as Bandinello deserved all the

* We find from Vasari, that this work of Bandinello, which
is still in the Square of the Palazzo Vecchio opposite the David
of Buonarroti, did not justify the boast of its sculptor, nor
answer the public expectations ; and that, when it was first ex
posed to the public in 1534, so many satires were pasted upon
it, that the duke Alessandro was obliged to put a stop to them
by imprisoning their authors. The Florentines were particularly
indignant against Bandinello, because he had himself procured
the execution of this performance from Clement VII. after it had
been assigned by Leo. X. to Buonarroti, who had even begun to
study a design for it.
+ This is the new Sacristy, or the Chapel, in which the remains
of the Medici were deposited in the church of St. Lorenzo at
Florence. It was executed by Buonarroti between the years
\525 and 1529, by order of Clement VII. In this chapel

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 213
ill that was said of his work, so Michel Angelo
merited the highest encomiums that were be
stowed on his performance."
Upon my expressing myself thus, Bandinello
was incensed to such a degree, that he was ready
to burst with fury, and turning to me, said,
" What faults have you to find with my statues V
I answered, " I will soon tell them, if you have
but the patience to hear me." He replied,
"Tell them then." The duke and all present
listened with the utmost attention. I began by
premising that I was sorry to be obliged to lay
before him all the blemishes of his work, and
that I was not so properly delivering my own
sentiments, as declaring what was said of it by
the ingenious school of Florence. However, as
the fellow at one time said something disobliging,
at another made some offensive gesture with his
hands or his feet, he put me into such a passion

Michel Angelo emulated the architecture of the old sacristy,
designed with the rest of that church by the celebrated Filippo
Branelleschi ; and he lavished on this work the wonders of his
art with such success, that according to Vasari, the seven statues
which adorned the monuments of Giuliano and Lorenzo de' Me
dici, the brother and nephew of Leo X. might alone be sufficient,
if the art were lost, to restore it to its pristine perfection. The
same historian and excellent artist adds, that in gerieral all the
effect produced by Buonarroti in the Sacristy is that the eyes can
never be wearied or satiated, and that for this reason-many Latin
and Italian verses were made in its praise by the literati of that
period.

214 MEMOIRS OF
that I behaved with a rudeness which I should
otherwise have avoided.
" The ingenious school of Florence," said I,
'' declares what follows : If the hair of your Her
cules were shaved off, there would not remain
skull enough to hold his brains. With regard to
his face, it is hard to distinguish whether it be
the face of a man, or that of a creature some
thing between a lion and an ox ; it discovers no
attention to what it is about. ; and it is so ill set
upon the neck, with so little art and in so un
graceful a manner, that a more shocking piece of
work was never seen. His great brawny shoulders
resemble the two pommels of an ass's pack-sad
dle ; his breasts and their muscles bear no simi
litude to those of a man, but seem to have been
drawn from a sack of melons. As he leans directly
against the wall, the small of the back has the
appearance of a bag filled with long cucumbers ;
it is impossible to conceive in what manner the
two legs are fastened to this distorted figure, for
it is hard to distinguish upon which leg he stands,
or upon which he exerts any effort of his strength;
nor does he appear to stand upon both, as he is
sometimes represented by those masters of the
art of statuary who know something of their
business. It is plain too that the statue inclines
more than one-third of a cubit fonvard; and this
is the greatest and the most insupportable blun
der which pretenders to sculpture can be guilty
of. As for the arms, they both hang down in the

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 215
most awkward and ungraceful manner imaginable ;
and so little art is displayed in them, that people
would be almost tempted to think that you never
saw a naked man in your life. The right leg of
Hercules and that of Cacus touch at the middle
of their calves, and if they were to be separated,
not one of them only, but both, would remain
without a calf in the place where they touch :
besides, one of the Hercules's feet is quite buried,
and the other seems as if it stood upon hot coals."
Thus I went on, but the man could no longer
stay with patience to hear the defects of his
figure of Cacus enumerated. One reason, was,
that what I said was true ; the other, that I made
the duke perfectly acquainted with his real cha
racter, as well as the rest of those present, who
discovered the greatest symptoms of surprise
imaginable, and began to be sensible that all I
said was true. The brutish fellow then said,
" O thou slanderer, dost thou say nothing of
my design?" I answered, "That he who drew
a good one could never work ill; and that I
was convinced his design was of a piece with
his works." Seeing that the duke and all pre
sent shewed by their sarcastic looks and ges
tures, that they thought the censure of his per
formance to be just, he let his insolence entirely
get the better of him, and turning to me with a
most brutish physiognomy, called me by the
basest and most infamous epithets. I, though
much enraged, thought it best to turn all he said
into ridicule, and made the duke and all who were

216 MEMOIRS OF
present laugh at him. Nevertheless, I was ready
to burst with vexation, that one of the most
worthless wretches upon earth should have the
impudence to affront me in so gross a manner,
in the presence of a great prince; but the reader
should at the same time take it into consideration,
that on this occasion the duke was affronted and
not I ; for had I not been in his august presence,
I should have killed the villain upon the spot.
Perceiving that the noble personage present never
once ceased laughing, this wretch, to divert them
from deriding him, began to change the subject,
and said, "This Benvenuto goes about making
it his boast, that I promised him a block of mar
ble." "How!" said I, interrupting him, "did
you not send word by your journeyman, Fran
cesco Matteo Fabbro, that if I chose to work in
marble, you would make me a present of a piece ?
Did I not accept the offer, and don't I still require
of you the performance of your promise?" He
replied, "Then depend upon it, you shall never
have it." Thereupon I, who was incensed to the
highest pitch by his former abuse, being suddenly
deprived of my reason, as it were, forgot for a
moment that I was in the presence of the duke,
and cried out to him in a passion: "In plain
terms, either send the marble to my house, or
think of another world ; for I will infallibly send
you out of this." But, recollecting immediately
that I was in the presence of so great a prince, I
turned with an air of humility to his excellency,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 217
and said, " My lord, one fool makes a hundred :
the folly of this man had made me forget your
excellency's glory, and myself, for which I hum
bly beg your pardon."
The duke, addressing himself to Bandinello,
asked him whether it was true that he had pro
mised me the marble ?" Bandinello answered, it
was. The duke thereupon said to me, " Return
to your work, and take a piece of marble to your
liking." I replied, "That he had promised to
send me one to my own house." Terrible words
passed upon the occasion, and I insisted upon
receiving it in that manner and no other.
The next morning a piece of marble was
brought to my house, and I asked the porters
whom it came from : they told me that it was sent
by Bandinello, being the piece of marble which
he had promised me. I ordered it to be carried
into my shop, and took it in hand that moment ;
and whilst I was working upon it, I made my
model ; so eager was I to be employed in mar
ble, that I could not have the patience to take
the necessary time for making a model, with all
the care and judgment that our art requires. Per
ceiving the marble crack, I several times began
to repent that I had undertaken the work; how
ever I made what I could out of it, I mean the
Apollo and Hyacinthus, which, though imperfect,
are still to be seen at my shop.
Whilst I was employed in this manner, the
dukq came to my house, and said to me several

218 MEMOIRS OF
times, " Let the bronze alone for a while, and work
a little in marble that I may see how you do it."
I immediately took the tools, which are used in
working upon marble, and began to apply them
to the purpose. The duke inquiring about the
model 1 had made for this work, I told him that
the marble was quite broken, but I would war
rant to make something of it notwithstanding;
for though I could not resolve upon a model, I
would still work on, and do the best I could.
The duke, hearing this, caused a piece of Greek
marble to be conveyed with the utmost expedi
tion from Rome, to enable me to restore the an
tique Ganymede, which had given rise to the dis
pute between me and Bandinello. When the
Greek marble arrived, I considered that it was a
sin to break it into pieces, for the sake of making
and repairing the head, arms, and other parts of
the Ganymede. I therefore provided myself with
another block, and for this piece of Greek marble
I made a little waxen model, to which I gave
the name of Narcissus : and as this marble had
two holes, which were above a quarter of a cubit
in depth and full two inches broad, I had re
course to the attitude which is seen in that part,
to prevent the ill effect of those holes, so that I
struck them out of my figure. But for many
years past, that it rained constantly upon the
marble, aud these holes were always left full of
water, the moisture had penetrated to such a de
gree, that the marble became quite weak and al-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 219
most rotten in the upper hole, and so it appeared
Avhen the water rose above a cubit and a half in
my shop at the great inundation of the Arno ; for
as this piece of marble was placed upon a square
piece of wood, the water above-mentioned made
it turn about, by which accident the breasts were
broken, so that I was obliged to mend them ; and
that the cleft might not appear where they were
fastened on, I placed there a garland of flowers,
which is still seen upon the breast of the figure.
This work I executed at certain hours before day,
or else upon holidays only, that I might not de
lay my great work of the statue of Perseus. As
I was one morning amongst others preparing
some tools to work at it, a little bit of steel flew
into my right eye, and entered so far into the
pupil that it was impossible to get it out, so that I
was in very great danger of losing that eye.
Several days after I sent for Maestro Raffaello de
Pilli, a surgeon, who took two live pigeons, and
making me lie upon my back, with a little knife
opened a vein in each of their wings, so that the
blood ran into my eye, and I was thereby greatly
relieved. In the space of two days the bit of
steel issued from my eye, and I found that I had
received considerable ease and in a great measure
recovered my sight.
The feast of St. Lucia approaching, I made a
golden eye, of a French crown, and got it offered
to that saint by one of the daughters of my sister
Liperata, a girl about ten years of age : in this

220 MEMOIRS OF
manner did I testify my gratitude to God and to
St. Lucia.' For some time after I discontinued
working upon the Narcissus, but went on with
my Perseus, notwithstanding all the difficulties
already enumerated, for I had formed a resolution
to finish it and then to leave Florence.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 221

CHAPTER XVI.

The duke, having some doubt of Cellini's skill and abilities in
casting figures of bronze, enters into a conversation with him
upon the subject. — Cellini gives a sufficient proof of his
extraordinary skill, by casting a beautiful bronze statue of
Perseus. As I had been particularly successful in casting
my Medusa, I made a model of my. Perseus in
wax, and flattered myself that I should have the
same success in casting the latter in bronze, as I
had had with the former. Upon its appearing to
such advantage, and looking so beautiful in wax,
the duke, whether somebody else put it into his
head, or whether it was a notion of his own, as he
came to my house oftener than usual, once took
occasion to say to me, " Benvenuto, this statue
cannot be cast in bronze : it is not in the power
of your art to compass it." Hearing him express
himself in that manner, I discovered great vexa
tion, and said, " My lord, I know that your ex
cellency places very little confidence in me, and
that you have but too good an opinion of those

222 MEMOIRS OF
who speak ill of me ; or else you do not under
stand things of this nature." Scarce did he suffer
me to utter these words when he answered ; " I
profess to understand them, and I do understand
them perfectly." I replied, " You may under
stand them as a prince, but not as an artist : for
if you had that skill in these matters which you
think you have, you would believe me upon ac
count of the fine bronze head which I cast for
your excellency, and which was sent to the Elbe ;
as also for having restored the beautiful figure of
Ganymede, a work that gave me infinite trouble,
insomuch that it would have been easier for me
to have made a new one ; likewise for having
cast the Medusa, which stands here before your
excellency, a performance of immense difficulty,
in which I have done what no man ever did be
fore me in this most laborious art. Consider, my
lord, I have constructed a new sort of a furnace,
in a manner unknown to other artists ; for be
sides many other particulars and curious inven
tions to be seen in it, I have made two issues for
the bronze ; for otherwise that difficult and dis
torted figure could never come out, and it was
only by means of my skill and invention that it
came out as well as it did: and do not imagine
that every common artist could have done as
much. Know likewise, my lord, that all the
great and difficult undertakings that I have been
employed in by the renowned King Francis, were

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 223
attended with admirable success, purely on ac
count of that King's generous encouragement of
my labours, in providing me with every thing I
wanted, and allowing me as many hands as I re
quired. At certain times I had under me above
forty journeymen, all of my own choosing ; and
this was the reason that I finished so many un
dertakings in so short a time. Therefore, my
lord, take my advice, and afford me the assistance
I want, for 1 have great hopes of producing a
work that will please you ; whereas if your ex
cellency discourages me, and does not supply me
with the necessary helps, it is impossible that ei
ther I or any man living can produce any thing
worth notice."
The duke scarcely had patience to hear me out,
but sometimes turned one way, sometimes ano
ther; and I was quite in despair when I recollected
the circumstances in which I had lived in France.
At last he all on a sudden said, "Tell me, Benve
nuto, how is it possible that this fine head of
Medusa, which Perseus holds aloft in his hand,
should ever come out cleverly ?" I immediately
answered, " It is clear, my lord, that you are no
connoisseur in statuary, as your excellency boasts
yourself; for if you had any skill in the art, you
would not be afraid of that fine head's not coming-
out, but would express your apprehensions con
cerning that right foot, which is at such a distance
below." The duke half angry, addressing himself

224 MEMOIRS OF
to some noblemen who were with him, said, " I
really believe it is a practice of Benvenuto's to
contradict and oppose every thing he hears ad
vanced :" then turning to me, as it were in deri
sion, in which he was imitated by all present, he
expressed himself thus : " I am willing to have
patience to hear what reason you can allege, that
can possibly induce me to believe what you af
firm." I answered, "I will give your excellency
a reason so satisfactory, that you will be able to
conceive the full force of it." I thereupon began
in these terms : " You know, my lord, that the
nature of fire is to fly upwards; I therefore assure
you that the head of Medusa will come out per
fectly well : but as it is not the property of fire to
descend, and it is necessary to force it down six
cubits by art, hence I affirm, that it is impossible
that yon foot should ever come out ; but it will
be an easy matter for me to make a new one *.
* In order the better to understand what is here said, we
shall shortly state from the "Trattato sopra la Scultura" of
Benvenuto, the manner in wliich he proceeded in the execution
of his Perseus. "This statue was intended to be of bronze, five
ells in height, of one piece, and hollow. Cellini first formed his
model of clay more slender than the statue was intended to
be. He then baked it, and covered it with wax of the thick
ness of a finger, wliich he modelled into the perfect form of the
statue. In order to effect in concave what the wax represented
in convex, he covered the wax with clay, and baked this second
covering. Thus the wax dissolving, and escaping by fissures
left open for the purpose, he obtained between the first model
and the second covering a space for the introduction of the

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 225
The duke thereupon said, " Why did you not
think of contriving to make that foot come out as
well as the head ?" — " I must then," answered I,
" have made the furnace much bigger, to be able
to cast a piece of brass as thick as my leg, and
with that weight of hot metal I should have made
it come out by force ; whereas my brass which
goes down to the feet six cubits, as I mentioned
before, is not above two inches thick. Therefore
it was not worth your notice, for it can soon
be rectified : but when my mould is something
more than half full, I have good hopes, that from
that half upwards, the fire mounting by its natural
property, the heads of Perseus and Medusa will
come out admirably ; and this you may depend
upon." When I had laid before the duke all these
reasons, with many more which I for the sake of
brevity omit, he shook his head, and departed.
I now took courage, resolving to depend on
myself, and banished all those thoughts, which
from time to time occasioned me great inquie
tude, and made me sorely repent my ever having
quitted France, with a view of assisting six poor
metal. In order to introduce the bronze without moving the
first model, he gently placed the model in a pit dug under tlie
furnace, and by means of pipes and apertures in the model itself
he introduced the liquid metal. It is evident from this, that into
the right foot of the statue, which was more than six ells under
the bottom of the furnace, the metal must descend through its
appropriate duct in a much cooler state than into the higher
parts. VOL. II. O.

226 MEMOIRS OF
nieces at Florence ; which good intention proved
the source and origin of all the misfortunes that
afterwards befel me. However, I still flattered
myself, that if I could but finish my statue of
Perseus, all my labours would be converted to
delight, and meet with a glorious and happy re
ward. Thus, having recovered my vigour of
mind, I with the utmost strength of body and of
purse, though indeed I had but little money left,
began to purchase several loads of pine- wood from
the pine-grove of the Serristori, hard by Monte
Lupo ; and whilst I was waiting for it, I covered
my Perseus with the earth which I had prepared
several months before-hand, that it might have its
proper seasoning. After I had made its coat of
earth, covered it well, and bound it properly with
irons, I began by means of a slow fire to draw off
the wax, which melted away by many vent-holes ;
¦ — for the more of these are made, the better the
moulds are filled: and when I had entirely stripped
off the wax, I made a sort of fence round my
Perseus, that is, round the mould above-men
tioned, of bricks, piling them one upon another,
and leaving several vacuities for the fire to exhale
at. I next began to put on the wood, and kept a
constant fire for two days and two nights, till
the wax being quite off, and the mould well
baked, I began to dig a hole to bury my mould in,
and observed all those fine methods of proceeding
that are prescribed by our art. When I had
completely dug my hole, I took my mould, and

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 227
by means of levers and strong cables directed
it with care, and suspended it a cubit above
the level of the furnace, so that it hung ex
actly in the middle of the hole. I then let it
gently down to the very bottom of the furnace,
and placed it with all the care and exactness 1
possibly could. After I had finished this part of
my task, I began to make a covering of the very
earth I had taken off, and in proportion as I
raised the earth, I made vents for it, which are a
sort of tubes of baked earth, generally used for
conduits, and other things of a similar nature. As
soon as I sa*w that I had placed it properly, and
that this manner of covering it, by putting on
these small tubes in their proper places, was
likely to answer, as also that my journeymen
thoroughly understood my plan, which was very
different from that of all other masters, and I was
sure that I could depend upon them, I turned
my thoughts to my furnace. I had caused it to
be filled with several pieces of brass and bronze,
and heaped them upon one another in the manner
taught us by our art, taking particular care to
leave a passage for the flames, that the metal
might the sooner assume its colour and dissolve
into a fluid. Thus I, with great alacrity, excited
my men to lay on the pine-wood, which because
of the oiliness of the resinous matter that oozes
from the pine-tree, and that my furnace was ad
mirably well made, burned at such a rate, that
I was continually obliged to run to and fro, which
ft 2

228 MEMOIRS OF
greatly fatigued me. I however bore the hard
ship ; but to add to my misfortune, the shop took
fire, and we were all very much afraid that the
roof would fall in and crush us : from another
quarter, that is, from the garden, the sky poured
in so much rain and wind, that it cooled my
furnace. Thus did I continue to struggle with these
cross accidents for several hours, and exerted
myself to such a degree, that my constitution,
though robust, could no longer bear such severe
hardship, and I was suddenly attacked by a
most violent intermitting fever : in short, I was
so ill that I found myself under a necessity of
lying down upon my bed. This gave me great
concern, but it was unavoidable. I thereupon
addressed myself to my assistants, who were
about ten in number, consisting of masters who
melted bronze, helpers, men from the country,
and the journeymen that worked in the shop,
amongst whom was Bernardino Manellini di Mu-
gello, who had lived with me several vears. After
having recommended it to them all to take proper
care of my business, I said to Bernardino, " My
friend, be careful to observe the method which I
have shewn you, and use all possible expedition,
for the metal will soon be readv. You cannot
mistake : these two worthy men here will quickly
make the tubes; with two such directors you can
certainly contrive to pour out the hot metal by
means of the mandriani or iron crooks; and I

BENVENUTO CELLINI. £29
have no doubt but my mould will be filled com
pletely. I at present find myself extremely ill,
and really believe that in a few hours this severe
disorder will put an end to my life." Thus I left
them in great sorrow, and went to bed. I then
ordered the maids to carry victuals and drink
into the shop for all the men, and told them I did
not expect to live till the next morning. They
encouraged me notwithstanding, assuring me that
my disorder would not last, as it was only the
effect of my having over-fatigued myself. In
this manner did I continue for two hours in a vio
lent fever ; I every moment perceived it to in
crease, and was incessantly crying out, " I am
dying, I am dying."
My housekeeper, whose name was Mona
Fiore da Castel del Rio, was one of the most sen
sible women in the world, and thoroughly de
voted to me. She rebuked me for giving way to
vain fears, and at the same time attended me with
the greatest kindness, and care imaginable ; how
ever, seeing me so very ill, and terrified to such a
degree, she could not contain herself, but shed a
flood of tears ; which she endeavoured to conceal
from me. Whilst we were both in this deep
affliction, I perceived a man enter the room, who
in his person appeared to be as crooked and dis
torted as the letter S : this man began to express
himself in these terms, with a tone of voice as
dismal and melancholy as those who exhort and
pray with persons who are going to be executed :

230 MEMOIRS OF
" Alas! poor Benvenuto, your work is spoiled,
and the misfortune admits of no remedy."
No sooner had I heard the words uttered by
this messenger of evil, but I cried out so loud
that my voice might be heard to the skies, and
got out of bed. I began immediately to dress,
and giving plenty of kicks and cuffs to the maid
servants and the boy as they offered to help me
on with my clothes, I complained bitterly in
these terms : " O you envious and treacherous
wretches, this is a piece of villainy contrived on
purpose ; but I swear by the living God that I
will sift it to the bottom, and before I die, give
such proofs who I am, as shall not fail to asto
nish the whole world." Having huddled on my
clothes, I went with a mind boding evil to the
shop, where I found all those whom I had left so
alert, and in such high spirits, standing in the ut
most confusion and astonishment. I thereupon
addressed them thus : " Listen all of you to what
I am going to say ; and since you either would
not or could not follow the method I pointed
out, obey me now that I am present : my work
is before us, and let none of you offer to oppose
or contradict me, for such cases as this require
activity and not counsel. Hereupon one Ales
sandro Lastricati had the assurance to say to me ;
" Look you, Benvenuto, you have undertaken a
work which our art cannot compass, and which
is not to be effected by human power."
Hearing these words I turned round in such a

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 231
passion, and seemed so bent upon mischief, that
both he and all the rest unanimously cried out
to me ; " Give your orders, and we will all second
you in whatever you command : we will assist you
as long as we have breath in our bodies." These
kind and affectionate words they uttered, as I
firmly believe, iu a persuasion that I was upon the
point of expiring. I went directly to examine
the furnace, and saw all the metal in it concreted.
I thereupon ordered two of the helpers to step
over the way to Capretta Beccajo, for a load of
young oak, which had been above a year drying,
and been offered me by Maria Ginevera, wife to
the said Capretta. Upon his bringing me the
first bundles of it, I began to fill the grate. This
sort of oak makes a brisker fire than any other
wood whatever ; but the wood of elder- trees and
-pine-trees is used in casting artillery, because it
makes a mild and gentle fire. As soon as the con
creted metal felt the power of this violent fire, it
began to brighten and glitter. In another quar
ter I made them hurry the tubes with all possible
expedition, and sent some of them to the roof of
the house to take care of the fire, wbich through
the great violence of the wind had acquired new
force ; and towards the garden I had caused some
tables with pieces of tapestry and old clothes to
be placed, in order to shelter me from the rain.
As soon as I had applied the proper remedy to
each evil, I with a loud voice cried out to my men
to bestir themselves and lend a helping hand ; so

232 MEMOIRS Ol-
that when they saw that the concreted metal be
gan to melt again, the whole body obeyed me
with such zeal and alacrity, that every man did
work enough for three. Then I caused a mass of
pewter weighing about sixty pounds to be thrown
upon the metal in the furnace, which with the
other helps, as the brisk wood fire, and stirring it
sometimes with iron, and sometimes with long
poles, soon became completely dissolved. Find
ing that I had effected what seemed as difficult as
to raise the dead, I recovered my vigour to such
a degree, that 1 no longer perceived whether I
had any fever, nor had I the least apprehension
of death. Suddenly a loud noise was heard, and
a glittering of fire flashed before our eyes, as if it
had been the darting of a thunderbolt. Upon
the appearance of this extraordinary phenomenon,
terror seized on all present, and on none more
than myself. This tremendous noise being over,
we began to stare at each other, and perceived
that the cover of the furnace had burst and flown
off, so that the bronze began to run. I imme
diately caused the mouths of my mould to be
opened, but finding that the metal did not run
with its usual velocity, and apprehending that the
cause of it was that the quality of the metal was
consumed by the violence of the fire, I ordered
all my dishes and porringers, which were in num
ber about two hundred, to be placed one by one
before my tubes, and part of them to be thrown

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 233
into the furnace ; so that all present perceiving
that my bronze was completely dissolved, and that
my mould was filling, with joy and alacrity as
sisted and obeyed me. I for my part Avas some
times in one place, sometimes in another,
givirig my directions and assisting my men, be
fore whom I offered up this prayer : " O God, I
address myself to thee, who, of thy divine power,
didst rise from the dead, and ascend in glory to
heaven. I acknowledge in gratitude this mercy
that my mould has been filled : I fall prostrate
before thee, and with my whole heart return
thanks to thy divine majesty." My prayer be
ing over, 1 took a plate of meat which stood upon
a little bench, and ate with a great appetite. I
then drank with all my journeymen and assistants,
and went joyful and in good health to bed ; for
there were still two hours of night ; and I rested
as well as if I had been troubled with no manner
of disorder.
My good housekeeper, without my having
given any orders, had provided a young capon
for my dinner. When I arose, which was not
till about noon, she accosted me in high spirits,
and said merrily, " Is this the man that thought
himself dying ? It is my firm belief that the cuffs
and kicks which you gave us last night, when
you were quite frantic and possessed, frightened
away your fever, which, apprehending lest you
should fall upon it in the same manner, took to

234 MEMOIRS OF
flight." So my whole poor family, having got over
such panics and hardships, without delay pro
cured earthen vessels to supply the place of the
pewter dishes and porringers, and we all dined
together very cheerfully : indeed, I do not re
member having ever in my life eaten a meal with
greater satisfaction, or with a better appetite.
After dinner all those who had assisted me in my
work, came and congratulated me upon what had
happened, returned thanks to the Divine Being
for having interposed so mercifully in our behalf,
and declared that they had in theory and prac
tice learnt such things as were judged impossible
by other masters. I thereupon thought it allow
able to boast a little of my knowledge and skill
in this fine art, and, pulling out my purse, satis
fied all my workmen for their labour.
My mortal enemy, Pier Francesco Ricci, the
duke's steward, was very eager to know how
the affair had turned out ; so that the two whom
I suspected of being the cause of my metal's con
creting in the manner above related, told him
that I was not a man, but rather a downright
devil, for I had compassed that which was not
in the power of art to effect ; with many other
surprising things which would have been too
much even for the infernal powers. As they
greatly exaggerated what had passed, perhaps
with a view of excusing themselves, the steward
wrote to the duke, who was then at Pisa, an
account still more pompous, and more replete

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 235
with the marvellous than that which the work
men had given him.
Having left my work to cool during two days
after it was cast, I began gradually to uncover it.
I first of all found the Medusa's head, which had
come out admirably by the assistance of the
vents, as I had observed to the duke that the
property of fire was to fly upwards. I proceeded
to uncover the rest, and found that the other
head, I mean that of Perseus, was likewise come
out perfectly well. This occasioned me still
greater surprise, because, as it is seen in the
statue, it is much lower than that of Medusa, the
mouth of that figure being placed over the head
and shoulders of Perseus. I found that where
the head of Perseus ends, all the bronze was ex
hausted, which I had in my furnace. This sur
prised me very much, that there should not be
any thing over and above what is necessary in
casting. My astonishment, indeed, was raised
to such a degree, that I looked upon it as a mi
racle immediately wrought by the Almighty. I
went on uncovering it with great success, and
found every part turn out to admiration, till I
reached the foot of the right leg, which supports
the figure, where I perceived the heel come out :
so proceeding to examine it, and finding that the
whole was filled up, in one respect I was glad,
in another sorry, because I had told the duke it
would not have that effect. Continuing, how
ever, to uncover it, I foUnd that not only the

236 MEMOIRS OF
toes were wanting, but part of the foot itself, so
that there was almost one half deficient. This
occasioned me some new trouble, but I was not
displeased at it, because I could thereby con
vince the duke that I understood my business
thoroughly; and though there had come out a
great deal more of that foot than I thought there
would, the reason was, that in consequence of
the several accidents that had happened, it was
heated much more than it could have been in the
regular course of business ; especially as the
pewter plates had been thrown into the furnace, a
thing never done before.
I was highly pleased that my work had suc
ceeded so well, and went to Pisa to pay my re
spects to the duke, who received me in the most
gracious manner imaginable. The duchess vied
with him in kindness to me ; and though the stew
ard had written them an account of the affair, it
appeared to them much more wonderful and ex
traordinary, when 1 related it myself. Upon my
speaking to him of the foot of Perseus, which had
not come out (a circumstance of which I had ap
prised his excellency), I perceived that he was
filled with the utmost astonishment, and told the
affair to the duchess in the same terms that I had
before related to him. Finding that these great
personages were become so favourable to me, I
availed myself of the opportunity to request the
duke's permission to go to Rome : he granted it
in the nyist obliging terms, and desired me to re-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 237
turn speedily, in order to finish my statue of Per
seus. He at the same time gave me letters of re
commendation to his ambassador Averardo Ser-
ristori. This happened in the beginning of the
pontificate of Pope Julio de Monti.

238

MEMOIRS OF

CHAPTER XVII.

Cellini receives a letter from Michel Angelo concerning a bronze
head of Bindo Altoviti. — He sets out for Rome. — Having paid
his respects to the Pope, he waits upon Michel Angelo, and en
deavours to persuade him to enter into the duke's service. —
Cellini returns to Florence, and meets with a cold reception
from the duke, occasioned by ill offices done him by the
steward. — Matters are accommodated between him and his
excellency, but he soon falls into a like disgrace with the
duchess, by disclosing a secret concerning the purchase of a
pearl necklace. — Bernardone succeeds in prevailing upon the
duke to buy it for the duchess, contrary to Cellini's opinion. —
The duchess becomes Cellini's implacable enemy.
Before my departure from Florence, I di
rected my men to proceed with the work accord
ing to the method I had taught them. The cause
of my journey was this ; having made a bust of
Bindo Antonio Altoviti as large as the life, I sent
it to him to Rome ; and he put it into a cabinet
richly furnished with antiques and other things of
value, but an unfit repository for pieces of sculp-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 239
ture or even for pictures. The fact is, that the win
dows were under those fine works, so that being
placed in a wrong light, they did not appear to
that advantage which they would have done, if
they had been in a proper situation. One day
Bindo happened to be standing at his door, when
Michel Angelo Buonarroti the sculptor was pass
ing by : the former desired the latter to come in
and take a view of his cabinet of curiosities. Mi
chel Angelo, having complied with his request,
asked Bindo who the artist was that had taken
his likeness in so masterly a manner ? " You must
know," added he, " that I am highly pleased with
this head, though there are very fine antiques near
it ; but if those windows were above, instead of
being underneath, they would appear more con
spicuous, and your bust would, even amongst so
many noble pieces of antiquity, claim a high de
gree of reputation." Michel Angelo, after leaving
his friend Bindo, then wrote me a very polite
letter to this purport : " My dear friend Benve
nuto, I have many years known you for one of the
ablest jewellers in the world, and I now find that
you have equal abilities as a sculptor. You must
know that signor Bindo Altoviti shewed me his
bust in bronze, and told me that it was done by
you. I was highly pleased with the execution, but
it gave me great uneasiness to see it placed in a
disadvantageous light : had it but been properly
situated, it would have appeared to have been the
master-piece it is." This letter abounded with

240 MEMOIRS OF
the most affectionate and most favourable expres
sions concerning myself; so, before I set out for
Rome, I shewed it to the duke, who perused it
with great pleasure, and said to me, " Benve
nuto, I would have you write to him, and if you
can prevail on him to come to Florence, I will
make him one of the eight and forty*. Accord
ingly I wrote him a most affectionate epistle,
expressing the duke's sentiments as above, and
saying a hundred times more than I had been
commissioned to say : however, to avoid com
mitting any error, I shewed it to his excellency
before I sealed it, and told him that perhaps I
had promised him too much. He answered, that
I had done very right ; that Michel Angelo de
served still more than I had promised him, and
that he proposed conferring on him more con
siderable favours. This letter of mine Michel
Angelo never answered, at which neglect the
duke was highly offended.

* In the celebrated revolution at Florence, in 1532, by which
Clement VII. converted that republic into a duchy, in favour
of Alessandro de' Medici, were created three councils, one of
two hundred, which in some measure represented the people ;
the other of forty-eight, called the Senate, in which the sove
reignty was considered to reside, and which propounded the
laws ; and the third of four, chosen every three months from
the forty-eight; to which, together with the duke, was en
trusted the execution of the laws, and which along with him per
formed the functions of the ancient Sigiiuria, publishing the
enactments of the government with the title — Dux et consiliaiii
Reip. Flor.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 241
F Upon my arrival at Rome I went to lodge at
the house of Bindo Altoviti. He immediately
told me that he(had shewed his bust in bronze to
Michel Angelo, who had bestowed upon it the
highest praises imaginable ; so we talked together
of this affair for a considerable time. This man
had in his hands one thousand two hundred
crowns of mine, which he borrowed of me to
make up the sum of five thousand two hundred
that he had lent to the duke : thus four thousand
were his own, and mine were in his name. He
regularly paid me the just interest for my share,
which was the reason that I undertook to make
his bust. When he first saw it in wax, he sent
me fifty crowns by Giuliano Paccalli, his clerk.
I did not choose to take the money, but sent it
back by the messenger, and afterwards told
Bindo himself that it was sufficient for me if he
would keep that money with the rest of mine in
his hands, and let me receive the interest of it.
But now I perceived that he had bad intentions,
and, instead of caressing me according to cus
tom, he behaved quite rudely : , though he enter
tained me in his house, he was never in a good
humour, but quite the reverse. However we
settled the affair in a few words. I gave up my
payment for making the bust, and even what the
bronze had stood me in; and agreed that Bindo
should keep my money in his hands, and pay me
fifteen per cent, upon it during my natural life.
> One of the first things I did at Rome was to go
VOL. II. R

242 MEMOIRS OF
to kiss the Pope's foot. At that moment arrived
Averardo Serristori, ambassador from our duke.
I talked for some time with his Holiness, and
found him much disposed to favour me ; nay, I
verily believe, that disgusted with the difficulties
I had to encounter at Florence, I should have
again settled, with his Holiness's consent, at
Rome, but I found that the Florentine ambassa
dor counteracted me. I went to Michel Angelo
Buonarroti, and repeated to him the contents of
the letter I had sent him from Florence by the
duke's orders. He told me he was employed in
building St. Peter's church, and for that reason
could not quit Rome. I then said to him, that
since he had determined upon the model of the
structure, he might leave his pupil Urbino in his
place, who would punctually follow his direc
tions, and at the same time I made him several
new promises in the duke's name. He thereupon
looked at me attentively, ¦ and asked, with a
smile, whether I myself was pleased with my
situation at the court of Florence ? Though I
assured him I was perfectly well satisfied, and
that I met with the kindest treatment imagina
ble, he seemed to be thoroughly acquainted with
all my grievances ; and his final answer was, that
he could not think of leaving Rome. I remon
strated to him that he would act most laudably
in returning to his own country, which was go
verned by a most just prince, and one who loved
men of genius and abilities the most of any po-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 243
tentate the world had ever produced. I men
tioned that he had an apprentice from Urbino,
who had lived with him several years, rather as
a servant boy, than in any other capacity: this
was evident enough, for the lad had learned
nothing at all of the business. Upon my pressing
Michel Angelo so hard that he had not a word
to say in his defence, he turned suddenly to his
apprentice, as it were to ask his opinion of the
matter. The apprentice, with rustic gestures, and
a rough voice, said, " I will never quit Michel
Angelo, till I have laid him out, or he me." I
could not help laughing at the simplicity of these
words; so departed without ceremony.
After I had transacted my business with Bindo
Altoviti so unsuccessfully as to lose my bust of
bronze, and to entrust my money in his hands dur
ing life, I saw clearly what the principles of mer
chants are, and returned to Florence very much
dissatisfied with my expedition. I waited on his
excellency, who was then at the Castle, upon the
bridge of Rifredi. By the way I met with signor
Pier Francesco Ricci, the steward, and on making
an offer to accost him with the civilities which
custom prescribes, he exclaimed with the utmost
surprise, "So, you are returned!" His amaze
ment still continuing, he clapped his hands, told
me that the duke was at the Castle ; then turned
his back to me and marched off. I could not
possibly conceive why the fool behaved so oddly.
I repaired, however, to the Castle, and entering
r 2

244 MEMOIRS OF
the garden where the duke happened to be walk
ing, I saw his excellency at a distance. At the
sight of me he discovered symptoms of great
surprise, and signified to, me by a nod that I might
go about my business. I, who had flattered ray-
self that he would caress me rather more than at
my departure, seeing him behave thus extrava
gantly, returned very much disgusted to Florence,
and resuming my business, endeavoured to bring
my works to a conclusion with all possible expe
dition. Not being able to conjecture the cause
of the cold reception I had met with, I carefully
observed in what manner I was looked upon by sig
nor Sforza, and others of the duke's intimates ; and
took it into my head to ask Sforza what was the
meaning of this indifference : the latter answered
laughing, "Benvenuto, endeavour to act the part
of a man of honour, and fear nothing." Several
days after, he procured an interview for me with
the duke, who received me with a great many odd
civilities, and asked me what was doing at Rome.
I entered into conversation with him, and gave
him an account of the bust of bronze that I
had made for Bindo Altoviti, with what hap
pened upon the occasion. I perceived that he
listened to me with the greatest attention imagin
able ; so I told him all that had passed between
Michel Angelo Buonarroti and me, at which he
discovered some resentment, but at the same
time could not help laughing at the simplicity of
the apprentice. He said that the loss would be
Michel Angelo's, and not his : I made my bow and

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 245
retired. Doubtless Pier Francesco, the steward,
had done me some ill office with the duke, which
proved unsuccessful, for God is always a friend
to truth, and as he has hitherto extricated and
preserved me from the greatest dangers, I hope
he will continue his protection to the end of my
life, in the course of which I have gone through
such a sea of trouble and distress ; yet I proceed
forward undaunted in my career, with his assist
ance, nor am I terrified by the frowns of fortune
or the influence of inauspicious stars, so long as
God favours me with his all-sufficient grace.
Now, gentle reader, thou art to hear a most
dreadful accident. I made all the haste I could
to finish my work, and in the evening went to the
duke's wardrobe, where I used to assist the gold
smiths employed by his excellency, most of whose
works were after my designs. The duke took
great delight in seeing them busy, and in convers
ing with me, which induced me sometimes to go
there in the day-time. One day as I happened
to be in his wardrobe, his excellency came thi
ther according to custom, and the rather when he
knew that I was there. He began to chat with
me, and I made myself so agreeable to him, that
he appeared to be in a better humour than usual.
All on a sudden one of his secretaries entered
the room, and whispered him in the ear, as if
about some business of great importance : the
duke rose, and they went together into another
apartment. As the duchess had sent to see

246 MEMOIRS OF
what the duke was doing, the page told her that
he was talking and laughing with Benvenuto, and
we were very merry : her excellency thereupon
entered the wardrobe, and not finding the duke,
sat down by us. Perceiving that it would be
some time before we had done work, she turned to
me with great good humour, and shewing me a
fine string of large pearls, asked me what I
thought of it. I praised it highly. Her excel
lency then said, " I want the duke to buy it for
me ; so, Benvenuto, praise it in his presence as
much as possible." Hearing the duchess express
herself in this manner, I discovered my senti
ments to her with the most profound respect
in these terms: " I thought that string of
pearls belonged to your excellency, and it was
proper that I should say no ill of any thing that
was yours; but at present I am under a necessity
of speaking my mind. You must then under
stand, that by my knowledge in these matters I
can discover many defects in these pearls, and
would by no means advise you to buy them."
She answered, " The merchant offers them to me
for six thousand crowns ; and if they had not
some defects, they would be worth twelve thou
sand." " If the string of pearls," replied I, " were
ever so fine, 1 would not advise any one to give
above five thousand crowns for it; because pearls,
produced from fish, are not like jewels: in pro
cess of time they lose their value; but diamonds,
rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, are jewels which

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 247
lose nothing by growing old, and therefore are a
proper purchase." The duchess, somewhat piqued,
said she had a fancy for these pearls, therefore
begged I would praise them to the duke, and
even make no scruple of telling an untruth to
serve her, and I should find my account in it.
I, who was always a lover of truth and an
enemy to falsehood, being then under a necessity
of telling lies, lest I should forfeit the favour of so
great a princess, repaired with these unlucky
pearls to the apartment to which the duke was
then retired. As soon as he saw me, he said,
" Benvenuto, what are you about?" I pulled out
the string of pearls, and answered, " My lord, I
am come to shew you a fine string of the choicest
pearls :" then bestowing the highest praises on
them,- 1 added, " Buy them, my lord, buy them,
by all means." The duke told me he did not
choose to buy them, as they were not perfect.
To, this I answered : " Excuse me, my lord, these
surpass other pearls in beauty, and I do not be
lieve there were ever so many such on one bunch.'
The duchess was behind us, and could not but
overhear what I said; so that I praised the pearls
up to the skies. When the duke first looked at
them, he said he would not have them, as they
were not nearly so good as I said ; but I main
taining they were beautiful, he said, " Benvenuto,
I know you are an excellent judge of these things,
and if the pearls are so very fine, I should not
think much of purchasing them, as well to please

248 MEMOIRS OF
the duchess, as to have them in my possession
for our children." As I had begun to tell lies, I
plunged deeper and deeper into the mire, de
pending upon the duchess, who, I hoped, would
from time to time assist me. I was to receive
two hundred crowns for making the bargain, for
the duchess had hinted to me as much ; but I re--
solved not to touch a farthing of the money, lest
the duke should think I was acting in this man
ner with an interested view. He repeated to me
again, that he looked upon me as a perfect judge
of such things, and begged that if I were the man
of principle he took me to be, I would speak the
truth. Thereupon the tears came into my eyes,
and I said to him, " My lord, if I tell you the
truth, I make the duchess my mortal enemy: I
shall in consequence be under a necessity of leav
ing this city ; and my statue of Perseus, which I
promised the illustrious school of Florence, will
become the scoff of my enemies : I therefore beg
your excellency would consider my case." The
duke, perceiving that I had spoken before by
compulsion, desired me to put my confidence in
him, and fear nothing. I asked him, how it was
possible to conceal the affair from the duchess?
He bade me tell her that the pearls were quite
eclipsed by a casket of diamonds. Upon his ex
pressing himself in that manner, I told him my
real opinion of the pearls, and declared that they
were not worth above two thousand crowns.
The duchess, perceiving that we were quiet, for

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 249
we lowered our voices as much as we possibly
could, came forward, and said to the duke, " My
dear lord, I beg you would buy me that string of
pearls, because I have taken a particular fancy to
it; and your great artist, Benvenuto, says, he
never saw a finer." The duke told her he would
not buy it upon any account. " Why, my dear
lord," replied the duchess, " will not your excel
lency buy that string of pearls to oblige me ?"
— " Because," answered the duke, " I do not
choose to throw away- my money." — " How is it
throwing away your money," replied the duchess,
" if Benvenuto here, in whom you have so much
confidence, has assured me it would be cheap at
upwards of three thousand crowns?" The duke
then said, " Madam, Benvenuto has told me, that
if I buy it, I shall throw away my money, because
these pearls are neither round nor equal, and
there are many old ones among them. To con
vince yourself that what I say is true, do but ob
serve that pearl there, and that other ; look there,
and there again : in a word, they are by no means
for my purpose." Upon his expressing himself
in that manner, the duchess gave me a very
severe look, and, shaking her head with a mena
cing air, left the apartment.
I was now strongly tempted to hurry away to
some other part of the world ; but as my Perseus
was in a manner finished, I could not think of
neglecting to take it out of the mould. Let the
reader but consider my case, and seriously reflect

250 MEMOIRS OF
on the cruel dilemma to which I was reduced.
The duke had given orders to his servants to
suffer me constantly to pass through the apart
ments, and to have access to his excellency
wherever he happened to be: and the duchess
now laid her injunctions upon the very same ser
vants to turn me out whenever I came to the pa
lace. These fellows, as soon as they saw me
coming, would quit their posts, and order me to
turn back ; but they took care to act thus unper-
ceived by the duke, for if his excellency saw me
first, he either called to me, or made me a sign to
enter. The duchess sent for that Bernardone, of
whose knavery she had so bitterly complained,
and recommended the affair of the pearls to him
in the same manner she had done to me. Ber
nardone thereupon told her that her excellency
might depend upon him. The rogue went into the
duke's presence with the above-mentioned string
of pearls in his hand. The duke no sooner saw
him than he ordered him to quit his presence. The
knave, with his odd, affected tone of voice, with
which he drawled through his nose in a ridiculous
manner, said, "Ah, my dear lord, buy that string
of pearls for the poor lady, who cannot live with
out it." He added many more foolish expressions;
and at last quite disgusted the duke, who ordered
him to begone instantly, or he would give him a
slap in the face. The fellow knew very well
what he was about ; for if by means of flattery,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 251
or any other artifice whatever, he could prevail
on the duke to make that purchase, he was sure
of gaining the duchess's good graces, and of re
ceiving several hundred crowns for the bargain.
He continued therefore to fawn and flatter, and
the duke gave him several good sound boxes on
the ear to make him quit the place. So smartly
were the blows given that not only his cheeks
became red, but the tears burst into his eyes ;
the fellow notwithstanding persisted in his im
portunities, and cried, , " Ah, my lord, your
faithful servant would fain discharge his duty,
and willingly- submit to bear any severe treat
ment, provided the poor lady may be indulged
in her desire." The duke at last, quite tired of
the man, being also wearied out with cuffing him
about, and no longer able to resist his love for
the duchess, whom he delighted to humour in
every thing, said to Bernardone, " Get you
gone, and make a bargain for the pearls ; for
I am willing to do any thing to please the
duchess." From this whole transaction the reader may
form a judgment of the fury of adverse fortune in
persecuting a poor man, and the infamous manner
in which she favours the base and worthless. I
totally forfeited the good graces of the duchess,
which was in a great measure the cause of my
being deprived of her husband's favour ; and the
scoundrel Bernardone was not only well paid for

252 MEMOIRS OF
treating about the pearls, but became a favourite
both of the duke and his consort. Hence it is
evident, that when fortune bears us a grudge, it
avails nothing to act agreeably to the dictates of
virtue and honour.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 253

CHAPTER XVIII.

The duke makes war against Sienna — Cellini is employed in re
pairing the fortifications of Florence — Quarrel between Cel
lini and a Lombard captain — Discovery of some curious an
tiques in the country of Arezzo — The mutilated figures are
repaired by Cellini — Extraordinary scene between him and
the duchess — He refuses to gratify her in placing some bronze
figures in her apartment, which widens the breach between
them — Quarrel between him and Bernardone the goldsmith —
He finishes his famous statue of Perseus and Medusa,
which is exposed to public view in the great square, and meets
with universal approbation — Cellini is invited over to Sicily
by the viceroy, but refuses to quit the duke's service — He
undertakes a pilgrimage of a few days to Vallombrosa and
Camaldoli. About this time the war of Sienna broke out,
and the duke choosing to fortify Florence, con
signed the gates of the city to the care of the
most skilful engineers and architects. Upon this
occasion the gate leading to Prato, with the little
gate of Arno, leading to the mills, fell to my
share ; to the cavalier Bandinello was given the
gate of St. Friano ; to Pasqualino of Ancona, the

254 MEMOIRS OF
gate of S. Pier Gattolini ; to Giuliano di Baccio
d'Agnolo, a carpenter, the gate of St. George ; to
Particino, a carpenter, the gate leading to S.
Nicholas ; to Francesco da St. Gallo, the sculp
tor, surnamed Margolla, was consigned that
which leads to Croce ; and to Giambattista, com
monly called Jasso, was given the Pinti gate : in
like manner other bastions and gates were dis
tributed amongst other engineers, whose names I
cannot now recollect, nor is it very material. The
duke, who was a man .of abilities, and of a re
spectable character when uninfluenced by others,
went his rounds about the city ; and after his ex
cellency had well surveyed it, and determined
upon his measures, he sent for Lattanzio Gorini
his paymaster — an office in which Lattanzio par
ticularly delighted : his excellency then ordered
him to draw plans of the several methods he had
determined on to repair the fortifications of his
capital. Accordingly Lattanzio sent each of us a
plan of the gate he was to fortify. When I re
ceived mine, perceiving that the method was al
together defective, I went with it in my hand to
his excellency, in order to shew him my objec
tions ; but I no sooner began to speak, than he
turned about to me in a violent passion, and told
me, he would readily allow me the superiority in
statuary, but in this business of fortification I
must in my turn yield to him ; therefore I was to
follow the plan which he had sent me. To this
short admonition I answered in the gentlest terms

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 255
possible, and said, " My lord, even with regard
to the method of making beautiful statues, I have
learned something from your excellency, for we
have always had disputes on the subject ; in like
manner with regard to this article of fortifying
your city, which is a matter of much greater con
sequence than casting statues, I beg your excel
lency would vouchsafe to hear me, that by con
versing with you upon the subject, you may in
struct me in what manner I am to serve you."
By these conciliatory expressions, the duke was
prevailed on to enter into a conversation with
me. I made it appear by clear and convincing
reasons, that his method of fortifying would never
answer : upon which he desired me to go and
draw a plan myself, and he would see how he
liked it. I drew two plans according to the right
method of fortification, and carried them to his
excellency, who then distinguishing the true from
the false method, said to me with great good
humour, " Go and fortify the two gates your own
way : I have no farther objection." I thereupon
began the work with all possible expedition.
There was upon guard at the gate of Prato, a
Lombard captain, a robust gigantic man, who
spoke in a very rough, brutish manner, and was
exceedingly ignorant and presumptuous. This
man questioning me concerning what I was about,
I with great mildness shewed him my plans, and
found it a very difficult matter to make him con
ceive the method I intended to observe in my

256 MEMOIRS OF
operations. The stupid mortal now shook his
head, now turned himself one way, and now
another, often changed the position of his legs,
twisted his mustachios, which were very long,
frequently pulled the fold of his cap over his
eyes, and uttered oaths and imprecations, tell
ing me, he did not understand this puzzling
affair of mine. Being at last quite tired of
the fool, I desired him to leave it to me, who
did understand it ; so I turned my back on him,
at which being somewhat provoked, he cried out.
" So it seems, Sir, you and I must have a tilt
together." I immediately answered him in a
violent passion, for he had quite exasperated me :
" It will be less trouble to me to run you through
the body, than to make the bastion for this gate."
So we both at the same instant clapped our
hands to our swords ; but scarce had we drawn,
when a considerable number of gentlemen, as
well Florentines as courtiers from other parts
of the country, came and interposed. Most of
them blamed my adversary, telling him that he
was in the wrong, that I was a man capable of
making him pay dear for what he did, and that
if the duke came to know what had passed be
tween us, the captain would have reason to re
pent it. He then went about his business, and I
began to work at my bastion.
When 1 had settled in what manner it was
to be erected, I repaired to the other little gate
of Arno, where I met with a captain from Cesena,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 257
one of the politest men I ever knew of .his pro
fession. In his behaviour he had alL the gentle
ness of a lady, and yet upon occasion he shewed
himself to be one of the bravest and most for
midable men living. This gentleman observed
my manner of proceeding so attentively, that I
could not help taking notice of it : he desired to
know what I was about, and I with great com
plaisance explained my plan to him. In a word,
we vied with each other in politeness and civili
ties, and I acquitted myself much better in
making this bastion than the other. When 1 had
almost finished my bastions, Piero Strozzi's men
made an irruption into the district of Prato,
which threw the inhabitants into such a panic, that
they all instantly quitted it; on which account all
the carriages of that country were loaded, every
man removing with his effects to the city. As
the number, of carts occasioned their obstructing
each other, upon observing the great confusion,: I
bade the guards at the gate take care there hap
pened no disturbance there, as had been the case
at the gates of Turin*, for if they should have
* In the month of February 1543, the city of Torino' being
then in the possession of the French, Cesare Majo of Naples,
general of the Imperialists, in concert with a French serjeant of
the garrison, sent to a gate of the city six waggons loaded with
hay, but in which a picked body of men was concealed, who
were to keep the portcullis suspended in order to protect the
entrance of their companions, and occupy the place. This pro
ject failed in consequence of the serjeant having mentioned it;
VOL. II. S

258 MEMOIRS OF
occasion to let down the portcullis, it might very
possibly be unable to do its office, and remain
suspended upon one of those carts. The fool of
a captain, of whom mention has been made
above, hearing these words, began to give me
abusive language. I answered him in the same
style, so that we had a worse quarrel than before :
we were however parted. Having completed my
bastions, I received a good round sum of crowns
that I little expected, which proved of great ser
vice to me, and I returned with alacrity to finish
my Perseus.
About this time some curious antiquities were
discovered in the district of Arezzo, amongst
which was the chimera, that lion of bronze, to be
seen in the apartments next to the great hall of
the palace. With it was likewise found a consi
derable quantity of small statues of bronze,
covered either with earth or rust, and each of
them wanting the head, hands, or feet ; the duke
took pleasure in cleaning these statues himself,
with goldsmiths' chisels. I happened one day
to have occasion to speak to his excellency, when
he put into my hand a small hammer, with which
I struck the little chisels which the duke held in
his hand, and in that manner the figures were se
parated from the earth and rust that covered
and the governor being thus on his guard, caused the portcullis
to be dropped at the moment of the entrance of the waggons, and
assaulted and defeated his guests.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 259
them. Whilst we thus passed several evenings
together, the duke employed me to supply the
limbs that were wanting to the little statues ; and
he took such delight in these small labours of the
chisel, as to make me work even by day, and if
I were tardy in going to him, he would send for
me. I several times gave his excellency to un
derstand that this made me neglect my Perseus,
and would be attended with several bad conse
quences : the first of these, and which gave me
the greatest uneasiness, was that the length of
time which my work required, would tire his ex
cellency, as it did in fact ; the next was that I had
several workmen, and my not being in the way,
gave rise to many inconveniences ; for they not
only spoiled my work, but grew quite idle and
negligent. The duke therefore contented himself with my
going to him after sunset ; and I had so concili
ated his affection, that when I visited him in the
evening, he caressed me more than ever. About
this time the new apartments were built towards
the menagerie, so that his excellency, desiring to
retire t© a private room, got a little chamber made
up for him in these new buildings; and hither he
ordered me to come to him through his wardrobe,
which I did with the greatest privacy, by means of
certain little secret passages on the other side of
the great hall. But in a few daysthe duchess de
prived me of this accommodation, by causing all
these passages to be shut up, so that every even-
s 2

2G0 MEMOIRS OF
ing that I came to the palace, I was obliged to
wait a considerable time, and, as she was ill, I
never came without occasioning some inconve
nience to her. Both for this and another cause
she had taken such a dislike to me, that she
could not so muchas bear the sight of my person.
Though I had so much trouble, and received so
many insults, I with patience continued my visits,
and the duke had given such express orders, that
as soon as ever I knocked at those doors they
should be opened to me; that without being ques
tioned, I was suffered to go wherever I would,
It sometimes happened that as I unexpectedly en
tered those apartments, I found the duchess en
gaged; when she would fly into such a passion
with me, that I used to be quite frightened, and
she would constantly say, " Will you never have
done mending those little statues ? Your coming
at present is quite disagreeable to me." My an
swer was always couched in the gentlest terms :
" My illustrious and only patroness, there is no
thing I desire more than to serve you with fide
lity and the most perfect obedience ; and as these
works which the duke has employed me in, will
last several months, let me know, madam, whe
ther it is your pleasure that I should come here
no more : if it be, I will come no more upon any
account, let who will send for me : and even
should the duke himself send, I will say 1 am in
disposed, and will not obey his order." Her re
ply was, " I do not desire you to come no more,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 261
neither do I say you should not obey the duke,
but I really think these works of yours will never
have an end." Whether the duke guessed some
thing of this, or whatever else might be the cause,
his excellency again began to send for me as soon
as ever it was sunset, and the messenger desired
me to come without fail, for the duke waited for
me. I continued to struggle with these difficul
ties several weeks ; and one evening as I was en
tering according to custom, the duke, who seemed
to be engaged in some secret conversation with
the duchess, turned to me in the most violent
passion imaginable, and I being somewhat terri
fied, was for retiring directly, when he said to me
all on a sudden : " Come in, my friend Benve
nuto, go to your business, and I will soon follow
you." As I was passing by, signor D. Garzia,
the duke's son, then quite an infant, took me by
the cloak, and played the prettiest tricks with me
that were possible for such a child ; the duke ex
pressing some surprise at this, said to me, " How
pleasant it is to see my very children so fond of
you." Whilst my time was taken up in these little
trifling jobs, the princes Don Giovanni, Don Ar-
nando, and Don Garzia, every evening came into
the room where 1 was at work, and, unknown to
the duke, began to play their tricks upon me.
When I begged they would leave off, they made
answer they could not ; and I said to them, " You
cannot, because you will not : go your ways and

262 MEMOIRS OF
leave me:" at the same time the duke and duchess
began to laugh. Another evening having finished
the four little figures of bronze, which are joined
at the base, I mean Jupiter, Mercury, Minerva,
and Danae, the mother of Perseus, with her little
son Perseus sitting at her feet, I removed these
small figures to the apartment where I worked in
the evening, and placed them in proper order,
raising them somewhat above the eye, so that
they made a very pretty sight. The duke being
apprised of this, came somewhat sooner than
usual ; and because the person who had brought
him the intelligence, had represented them as
something far beyond what they really were, af
firming that they surpassed the works of the an
cients, with other exaggerations ofthe like nature,
the duke came with the duchess, and talked to
her in raptures of my works. I immediately rose
and advanced to meet him : the duke with a noble
and striking gesture lifted up his right hand, in
which he held a fine large slip of a pear-tree, and
said to me, " My friend Benvenuto, put this pear-
tree into your garden." I answered, " My lord,
are you in earnest, when you desire me to put it
into my garden ?" The duke repeated his words,
and said, " Into your garden, which is now your
own, house and all, do you understand me ?" I
thereupon thanked both the duke and duchess,
in the most respectful manner.
They then both sat down before the little
statues ; for above two hours they talked of nothing

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 263
erse, and the duchess took such a liking to them,
that she said, " I will by no means suffer those
figures to be lost by being placed upon that base
down in the great square, where they will be in
danger of being spoiled ; on the contrary, I must
get you to set them up in an apartment of mine,
where they shall be taken particular care of,, and
kept in a manner suitable to their exceUence." I
opposed what she said by a variety of arguments;
and, perceiving that she was determined that I
should not place them upon the base where they
now stand, I waited till the day following. I
then repaired to the palace about ten o'clock,
and finding that both the duke and the duchess
were gone to take an airing, as; I had already
properly prepared the base, I caused the statues
to be brought down, and fixed them with lead in
the position in which they were to stand. When
the duchess saw this, she was so highly provoked,
that had it not been for the duke, who took my
part to his utmost, I should have come off worse
than I did. However, in consequence of her re
sentment about the string of pearls, and for this:
affair, she did me so many ill offices, that the
duke at last left off amusing his leisure hours.
with me : hence it was that I ceased going to the
palace, and soon had the same difficulty of access
as before.
I returned to lodge at the house to which I had
removed my Perseus, and went on with it under
all the difficulties that have been already enume-

264 ' ; MEMOIRS OF
rated ; that is to say, without money, and with
so many other cross accidents, that one half ot
them would have discouraged a man of the most
determined resolution. I however proceeded.
Upon my happening one day to hear mass at
S. Piero Scheraggio, I saw Bernardone the gold
smith and broker, whom the duke had promoted
to the place of purveyor to the mint, as he was
coming out of the church. I accosted him with
many opprobrious words, and then ran home
for a cudgel ; but Bernardone fled directly to the
Mint. I stood some time, however, at my door,
and ordered my boys to wait in the street, and
make me a sign as soon as they saw the brute.
After I had waited a considerable time, I began
to grow tired, and as my passion had subsided a
little, I took it into consideration that blows are
aever under controul, and that the consequences
of such an affair might prove dangerous. I there
fore resolved to take a different sort of revenge,
and as this had happened within a day or two of
the festival of our tutelary saint Giovanni, I wrote
some verses and pasted them up on the church of
S. Piero Scheraggio. The purport of them was
as follows. * * * * * * +
These verses soon became known at the palace ;
the duke and duchess laughed heartily, and
crowds of people gathered about the church,
who were greatly diverted with the adventure.
t Here there is something wanting in the MS.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 265
As they looked towards the Mint, and fixed their
eyes upon Bernardone, his son Baccio perceiving
it, in a violent passion ran and tore the paper,
and biting his finger, threatened the people with
his shrill voice, which sounded through his nose,
making a great clamour.
The duke, being informed that my statue of
Perseus would bear inspection as a finished piece,
came one day to see it, and shewed by many
evident signs that it gave him the highest satis
faction imaginable ; so turning to some noblemen
in his retinue he expressed himself as follows :
" This work appears to me exceedingly beautiful :
it ought likewise to be approved of by the people;
therefore, my friend Benvenuto, before you have
quite done with it, I should be obliged to you if
you would for half a day throw open the gate
before the large square, that we may see what the
populace think of it ; for there can be no doubt
but that, when it is viewed in an open place, it
must make a very different appearance from what
it does when seen in this confined manner." I
answered to this very humbly, " Depend upon it,
, my lord, it will appear half as well again. Does
not your excellency remember having seen it in
the garden to my house, in which spacious place
it appeared to as great advantage as it could in
the garden of the Innocents? Bandinello came to
see it; and notwithstanding his natural malevo
lence, put some constraint upon himself to praise
my performance, though he never spoke well of
any body in his life before. I perceive that your

266 MEMOIRS OF
excellency listens too much to his insinuations."
When I expressed myself thus, he smiled some
what scornfully ; and still in the mildest terms he
begged me to oblige him. He left me, and I
began to prepare to exhibit my statue ; but, as it
wanted a little gilding, varnish, and other things
of the same kind, which are generally left to the
time of putting the last hand to a work, I mut
tered, grumbled, and complained, cursing the
hour that I first thought of going to Florence. I
was indeed by this time sensible of my great loss
in leaving France, and did not see or know what
I had to hope from the duke of Florence, because
all I had done for him from the first to the last
had been to my own loss ; so with great discon
tent I exhibited my statue the next day.
But it so pleased God that as soon as ever my
work was beheld by the populace, they set up so
loud a shout of applause, that I began to be some
what comforted for the mortifications I had un
dergone ; and there were sonnets in my praise
every day upon the gate, the language of which
was extremely elegant and poetical. The very
day on which I exhibited my work, there were
above twenty sonnets set up containing the most
hyperbolical praises of it. Even after I had co
vered it again, every day a number of verses, with
Latin odes and Greek poems, were published on
the occasion ; — for it was then vacation at the
university of Pisa, and all the learned men and
scholars belonging to that place vied with each

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 267
other in writing encomiums on my performance.
But what gave me the highest satisfaction and
encouraged me to hope most from the duke, was
that even those of the profession, I mean statu
aries and painters, emulated each other in com
mending me ; and amongst others the admirable
painter Giacopo da Puntormo*, whom I esteemed
above all the rest, and his friend the excellent
painter Bronzino, whom I valued still more. The
latter, not satisfied with causing several pane
gyrics upon me to be pasted up, sent them to my
house by his friend Sandrino. In these I was so
highly praised, and in so elegant a style, that it
afforded some alleviation for my past mortifica
tions and trouble, and I made all the haste I could
to put the last hand to my statue. The duke,
though he had heard of the compliments paid me
by this excellent school, said, he was very glad I
* Giacopo da Pontormo, so called from the residence of his
father, Bartolommeo Carucci, a Florentine, was a pupil of
Lionardo da Vinci, Andrea del Sarto, and many other Tuscan
Masters, but at the same time he formed for himself an entirely
new style, full of nature and grace, which was admired both by
Raffaello and Michel Angelo. Pontormo, nevertheless, after
having immortalized himself, as well by his paintings in fresco
as in oil, allowed himself in his old age to be seduced by the
prints of Albert Durer, and giving himself up to the German
manner, which he even carried to excess, he ended by entirely
losing sight of nature, so that his last work in fresco, which he
left unfinished in the church of St. Lorenzo at Florence, was
shortly afterwards, by universal consent, destroyed as extrava
gant and in bad taste. He dird at the age of 65 years, in 1558.

268 MEMOIRS OF
had met with so favourable a reception from the
public, for it would doubtless make me more ex
peditious as well as more careful in putting the
last hand to my work ; but that I should not
flatter myself, that when it was placed in such a
manner as to be seen on all sides, the people
would speak as advantageously of it as at pre
sent ; on the contrary, they would then discover
all the blemishes which it really had, and find
many others which it had not : so that I must put
on the armour of patience. These words Bandi
nello said to the duke, when he spoke of the works
of Andrea Verrochio*, who made the beautiful
statues of Christ and San Tommaso in bronze,
which are to be seen in the front of Orsanmi-
chele, and of many other works, and even of the
admirable David of the divine Michel Angelo
* Andrea del Verrochio, a Florentine goldsmith, who died at
the age of 56, in 1488, was a disciple of Donatello, and one of
the greatest artists of his age. According to the practice of
those times, he cultivated at the same time with great success
the arts of Sculpture, Painting, Engraving, Perspective, Archi
tecture, Geometry, and even Music. But he is said to have
abandoned painting on seeing himself far surpassed by his pupil
Lionardo da Vinci, then a young man, in a beautiful figure
painted by him in one of the works of his master. Andrea,
devoting himself entirely to sculpture and to the art of casting,
composed, amongst others, a most beautiful group, representing
Christ exposing his wounds to St. Thomas, which was placed,
and is still admired, in one of the exterior niches of the church
in Florence, called Orsamnichele, i. e. Orto S. Michele, or St.
Michele all' Orto.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 269
Buonarroti, declaring that they appeared to ad
vantage only when seen before ; and when he
afterwards spoke of his own Hercules, and the
many satirical verses that were pasted up against
him, and all the ill that was said of him by the
populace. All this made the duke, who put too
much confidence in him, express himself in the
above manner concerning my statue ; and he no
doubt thought it would have had much the same
end, because the envious Bandinello was con
stantly insinuating something against it. One
time, when that villain Bernardone the broker
happened to be present, he, to add weight to the
words of Bandinello, said to the duke, " You
must know, my lord, that to make large figures is
quite a different thing from working small ones ;
I do hot say but that Benvenuto has been happy
enough in the latter, but you will find his great
statue will have different success." With these
insinuations he mixed many more equally mali
cious, performing his odious office of a spy, in
which he told many untruths.
At last, however, as it pleased the Almighty, I
completely finished my work, and on a Thursday
morning exhibited it fully. Just before the break
of day there gathered so great a crowd about it,
that it is almost impossible for me to give the
reader an idea of their number, and they all
seemed to vie with each other who should praise
it most. The duke stood at a lower window of
the palace just over the gate, and being half con-

270 MEMOIRS OF
cealed within-side, heard all that was said con
cerning the work. After he had listened several
hours, he left the window highly pleased, and
turning to his favourite, signor Sforza, spoke to
him thus : " Sforza, go to Benvenuto and tell him
from me, that he has given me higher satisfaction
than I ever expected. Let him know at the same
time that I shall reward him in such a manner as
will excite his surprise ; so bid him be of good
cheer." Signor Sforza came to me with this glo
rious embassy, by which I was highly rejoiced.
During that whole day the people shewed me to
each other as a sort of prodigy. There happened
to be then in Florence two gentlemen who were
sent from the viceroy of Sicily to our duke
about business : these two worthy personages
came up to me with great eagerness and anima
tion in the great square where I was shewn to
them, and cap in hand made me a long harangue,
which would have been too great a panegyric
even for a Pope. I behaved as modestly as it
was possible for me on the occasion ; but they
continued so long paying me compliments, that
I at last begged they would leave the square,
because the populace crowded about to stare at
me more than at my statue of Perseus. During
their ceremonies and compliments, they went so
far as to propose to me to go with them to Sicily,
telling me that I should have no objection to their
terms; at the same time they told me that bro
ther Giovanangioio, of the order of the Servi, had

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 271
made them a fountain adorned with a variety of
figures, which were vastly inferior to my Perseus,
though they had made his fortune*. Without
* Agnolo da Montorsoli, of whom mention is made in the
XHIth Volume of Vasari, had studied the art of sculpture at
Fiesole, near which he was born. After having practised with
some success even as a rival of Buonarroti, he formed in 1527
the design of entering into some religious society, and having
successively made a trial at Camaldoli, Vernia, and with the Je
suits of Florence, he at last entered into the order of the Serviti in
Florence, assuming the name of Fra Gio. Agnolo, and receiving
the order of priesthood in 1530. Montorsoli did not, however,
renounce his art, but having been induced at first by his society,
and afterwards by Clement VII. to resume it, he devoted him
self to it with more assiduity than ever, and having laid aside
the habit, he went wherever he was invited, and acquired great
profit and reputation. He went into the service of Francis I.
and afterwards to Arezzo, Florence, Naples, and Genoa, in which
places he executed many works. In 1547 he was invited to
Messina, at that time the capital of Sicily, where, besides many
other works in sculpture and architecture, he executed two
beautiful fountains, one before the cathedral church of that
»city, and the other opposite the Custom-house. When Paul IV.
issued his order in 1557, that all the monks who had left their
convents should return thither, Fra Gio. Angelo obeyed, and
left Messina for Florence, and only • departed from this convent
once afterwards in order to execute an altar for the Serviti in
Bologna. Finding himself sufficiently rich to live in . tranquil
lity, and still retaining his love for the fine arts, he united himself
with many other celebrated professors to effect their revival, and
bestowed his gains upon the Company of Design, founded in
Florence in the time of Giotto, and which was particularly
protected by the duke Cosmo, by whose orders it afterwards met
in the new sacristy of St. Lorenzo. But the worthy Fra Gio.
Agnolo did not long witness the prosperity of this fine institu
tion, dying in 1563, at the age of fifty-six.

272 MEMOIRS OF
letting them finish all they would have said on
the occasion, I interrupted them in these terms:
" I am very much surprised, gentlemen, that you
should propose to me to quit the service of a
duke, who is a greater lover and encourager of
men of genius, than any prince that ever lived;
especially as I have at the same time the advan
tage of being in my own country, the first school
in the world for the polite arts, and all works of
ingenuity. If the love of gain had been my
ruling passion, I might have stayed in France, in
the service of a great monarch, who allowed me
a pension of a thousand crowns a year, and paid
me for every piece of work I did for him besides,
insomuch that annually I had above four thou
sand crowns coming in to me, and I had left in
Paris the works of four years." Thus I put a
stop to their proposal, and returned them thanks
for the praise they bestowed on me, the greatest
reward that can be conferred for laudable under
takings. I added, that they had so inflamed my
zeal to signalize myself, that I hoped in a few
years to exhibit another work, which I flattered
myself would give the school of Florence still
greater satisfaction, than it had received from my
present performance. The two gentlemen were
lor renewing the conversation ; but making then
a low bow, I very respectfully took my leave.
Having let two days pass, and perceiving that
my fame increased continually, I went to pay the
duke a visit, who said to me with great complai-

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 273
sance: "My friend Benvenuto, you have given
both me and the public in general, the highest
satisfaction imaginable; but I have promised to
reward you in such a manner as shall excite your
surprise, and what is more, I am resolved not to
defer it so much as a day. Upon receiving these
great assurances, I raised up all my mental and
corporeal faculties to the Almighty, and returned
him my sincere and hearty thanks ; at the same
instant I shed tears of joy, and kissing the hem
of his excellency's garment, addressed him thus :
" My most noble lord, liberal patron of the arts
and of those that cultivate them, I beg it as a
favour of your excellency, that you would give
me leave to retire for a week, to return thanks to
the Supreme Being; for I know how hard I have
worked, and am sensible that my faith has pre
vailed with God to grant me his assistance. On
account of this, and every other miraculous suc
cour afforded me by the Divine power, I propose
going a pilgrimage for a week, to express my
acknowledgment to the Eternal Being, who ever
assists those who sincerely call upon him." The
duke then asked me whither I intended to go ; I
made answer, "That I should the next day set out,
and go first to Vallombrosa, then to Camaldoli,
and the wilderness, and afterwards continue my
pilgrimage to the baths of Santa Maria, and per
haps as far as Sestile, for I had been informed
that there were fine antiquities in that place. I
should then return by St. Francesco della Vernia
VOL. II. t

274 MEMOIRS OF
and never ceasing to give thanks to the Almighty,
should come home joyfully to serve his excel
lency." The duke thereupon said to me with
great cheerfulness, " Go, and return quickly : I
am pleased with your intention; but give me a
couplet in remembrance of you, and leave the
rest to me." I immediately composed four lines,
in which I returned his excellency thanks for his
promised favours, and gave them to signor Sforza,
who put them into the duke's hand in my name.
The latter, after perusing them, gave them again
to signor Sforza, with these words ; " Be sure
you shew them to me every day; for if Benvenuto
should, upon his return, find that I had neglected
his business, he would be the death of me, beyond
all doubt." His excellency then laughed, and
signor Sforza told him he would be sure to put
him in mind. These very words the latter re
peated to me in the evening, telling me, that the
duke ordered him to put him in mind of me,
and mentioning at the same time all that had
passed on the occasion. Signor Sforza could not
help laughing all the time, while he expressed
much surprise at the high esteem in which I was
held by the duke. At parting, he said to me, with
great good humour, " Benvenuto, go, and return
with speed ; for I envy your happiness.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 275

CHAPTER XIX.

The Author in his pilgrimage meets with an old alchymist of
Bagno, who makes a discovery to him of some mines of gold
and silver, and gives him a map, which shews a dangerous pass
into the duke's country. — He returns with it to the duke, who
makes him great acknowledgments for his zeal. — Difference
between him and the duke about the value of his Perseus and
Medusa.— It is referred to the arbitration of Girolamp degli
Albizi. — Fresh dispute between Cellini and the duke, in
which Bandinello and the duchess interpose. — The Author is
employed to erect two pulpits in the chOir of S. Maria del
Fiore, and adorn them with basso rilievo figures in bronze.
I left Florence incessantly singing psalms and
saying prayers to the honour and glory of God,
during the whole journey, in which' Ihad great
pleasure, as it was then summer, and the weather
very fine: so pleased was I with the country, in
which I had never travelled before, that my de
light proved' equal to my wonder. My guide was
a young man from the baths of Santa Maria, who
worked in my «hop, and whose name was Caesar.
I met with a very kind reception at the baths from
his father and the whole family, amongst whom
t 2

276 MEMOIRS OF
was an old man above seventy, a very agreeable
companion : he was by profession a physician and
surgeon, and had a smattering of alchymy. This
worthy man proved to me that the bath contained
mines of gold and silver, and shewed me several
curiosities in that country : so that I never in my
life enjoyed greater pleasure than in his society.
Being at last grown quite familiar with me, he
told me one day, that he could not help communi
cating to me a thought of his, which, if his excel
lency would attend to us, he believed would turn
highly to our advantage ; what he meant was,
that near Camaldoli there was a pass so open, that
Piero Strozzi could not only pass through it with
ease, but might surprise the castle of Poppi with
out any difficulty : and not satisfied with proving
this to me in words, he took a leaf out of his
pocket-book, upon which he had drawn so exact
a plan of the whole country, as shewed but too
plainly, that the danger from that pass was not at
all imaginary. I took the plan, and immediately
quitting the baths of Santa Maria, returned by
the road of Prato Magno, and from San Francesco
della Vernia, arrived at Florence.
As soon as I had pulled off my boots, I re
paired to the palace, and when I reached the ab
bey, I met the duke, who was just coming from
the Podesta's palace : he received me most gra
ciously, but. at the same time expressing some
surprise, asked me, how I came to return so soon,
for he did not expect me that week. I answered,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 277
that I was returned to serve his excellency, other
wise should have gladly made a stay of several
days in the delightful countries where I had been
rambling. " What business of importance," con
tinued the duke, " has caused your speedy re
turn ?" " My lord," I replied, " I have something
of great consequence to shew you : " so I went
with him to the palace, where he conducted me to
a private apartment. I told him all I had heard,
and shewed him the sketch I had brought with
me. He appeared to be highly pleased with my
attention; aiid upon my observing to his excel
lency, that it was absolutely necessary to find an
immediate remedy for an affair of such importance;
the duke seemed to muse for a while, and then
told me, he had concluded an accommodation
with the duke of Urbino, who would take care
of that matter; but this he desired me to keep to
myself. I then returned home, after having re
ceived many demonstrations of his favour.
The next day I made my appearance at the
palace, and the duke, after a short conversation,
said to me very pleasantly, " To-morrow I will
without fail dispatch your business ; so be of good
cheer." Thinking myself sure of being provided
for, I with impatience waited for the morrow.
The wished-for day being arrived, I repaired to
the palace : but as it generally happens that bad
news are sooner communicated than good, signor
Giacopo Guidi, his excellency's secretary, called
me aside with his wry mouth and authoritative

278 MEMOIRS OF
voice, and drawing himself up as stiff and formal
as if he had been frozen, told me, " That the
duke was desirous to know from myself, what I
asked for my Perseus." Quite disconcerted and
surprised at this question, I immediately answer
ed that it was not customary with me to set a
price upon my works, and that this request was
not agreeable to the promise which his excel
lency had made me a few days before. The
secretary, raising his voice, said, he expressly
commanded me in the duke's name to tell what
I expected for my statue, upon pain of totally
forfeiting his excellency's favour. I, who not
only expected some considerable recompense in
consequence of the caresses lavished on me by
the duke, but likewise flattered myself that I had
entirely gained his good graces, and never de
sired any higher reward than his favour, upon
meeting with this unexpected treatment, aggra
vated by the insolence of that waspish secretary;
was incensed to such a degree, that I declared if
the duke was to give me ten thousand crowns
for my statue, it would be less than it was
worth ; and if I had expected to be bargained
with in such a mercenary way, I should never
have stayed at Florence. The spiteful secretary
thereupon gave me a deal of opprobrious lan
guage, which I returned in the same style.
The very next day I went to pay my court to
his excellency, who beckoned to me : upon my

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 279
approaching, he told me angrily that cities and
magnificent royal palaces might be built for ten
thousand dUcats.' I bowed, aiid answered without
hesitation, that his excellency might find numbers
of men capable of building cities and palaces, but
perhaps he might not in the whole world find an
other artist able to make him such a statue of Per
seus as mine ; and having thus expressed myself,
I departed. A few days after the duchess sent
for me, and desired me to make her arbitress of the
dispute between the duke and me, declaring that
she would so contrive matters that I should have
entire satisfaction. In return to this kind offer, I
answered, that I never desired any higher reward
for my labours, than his excellency's good graces ;
that he had promised me his favour, and it was un
necessary that I should then renew to: their ex
cellencies the declaration, which I had made on
the very first day that I began to serve them : I
added, that even if his excellency had given me
but twopence for my trouble, I should think my
self happy if he did not deprive me of his good
opinion. The duchess, smiling, answered me
thus : " Benvenuto^ your best way would be to
follow my advice ; " and so she left me.
I thought I could not do better than express
myself in the humble manner above related; I
was notwithstanding mistaken, for, though the
duchess had had some difference with me, she
was possessed of a great deal of good-nature,

280 MEMOIRS OF
and certainly meant well. At this time I was in
timately acquainted with Girolamo degli Albizi*,
commissary to the militia, who one day said to
me, " Benvenuto, it appears highly expedient
that we should endeavour to find some method of
accommodating this dispute between the duke
and you ; and if you will put that confidence in
me, I dare say I shall find means to set all to
rights : for as the duke is seriously offended, this
may otherwise turn out to your disadvantage : a
word to the wise is sufficient : I can say no more
at present." As I had been apprised of this,
since the duchess had the above conversation
with me, by one who perhaps had an ill intention
* Girolamo di Luca degli Albizi, or Albizzi, was one of the
warmest partisans ofthe Medici, even from the year 1529, and
was afterwards one of the forty-eight senators or counsellors or
the duke Alessandro. Being a cousin of Madonna Maria Sal
viati, mother of the duke Cosmo, he was one of those who
were the most eager to call him to the government ; and he was
so attached to him, that he is reported to have poisoned the his
torian Francesco Guicciardini, formerly his most intimate friend,
in consequence of the opposition he made to that prince. What
ever may be the truth of this accusation, it is certain, that Giro
lamo always served the duke with great zeal, particularly in the
direction of his military affairs, under the title of commissary-
general of the Florentine ordnance, although he had, in 1554,
returned to Florence, after having spent some months in the
war, in consequence of a disagreement with the Marchese di
Marignano, who then possessed the supreme command in the
camp. He had espoused Costanza de' Rossi di Parma, and died
without issue in 1555. In the house of Girolamo degli Albizzi
were, in-cording to Vasari, four cartoons of Michel Agnolo,
brought from France by Benvenuto Cellini.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 281
in so doing, and who said he came by his infor
mation accidentally, I replied in a passion, " I
could for less than twopence find in my heart
to throw my Perseus away, and that would com
pletely put an end to the dispute at once." How
ever, on account of the suspicion I had of the
person from whom I had my information, I told
Girolamo degli Albizi, that I left the whole affair
to him, and should readily agree to any proposal
of his, provided I might continue in favour with
the duke. This worthy person, who was tho
roughly acquainted with the profession of a sol
dier, especially with training and disciplining the
country militia, had no kind of taste for the po
lite arts, nor consequently for that of sculpture :
so he spoke concerning me to the duke, told him
that I had left the whole affair to him, and had
requested him to speak to his excellency in my
favour. The duke replied, that he would also
entrust the whole affair to him, and should abide
by whatever he determined. Girolamo thereupon
wrote a very ingenious letter, in which he spoke
greatly in my behalf; and his determination was
that the duke should give me three thousand five
hundred gold crowns, not as a gratification for so
elegant a piece of work, but towards my present
support ; that I should be satisfied with that sum ;
together with many more words which had all
the same tendency. The duke subscribed to this
with pleasure ; I was however very far from
being satisfied. When the duchess heard of this,

282 MEMOIRS OF
she said it would have been better for me if I had
left the affair to her, for she would have procured
me five thousand gold crowns. And one day that
I went to the palace, her excellency said the very
same thing to me in the presence of signor Ala-
manno Salviati*, and turned me into ridicule,
telling me, that I deserved all the bad success I
had met with. The duke gave orders that the
money should be paid me by monthly sums of a
hundred gold crowns. Afterwards signor Antonio
deNobili, who was commissioned to pay me, began
to give me only fifty, and after that again he re
duced his payments to five-and-twenty, and some
times did not pay me at all. When I perceived
these delays, I mildly expostulated with signor
Antonio, and begged to know for what reason he
discontinued my payments : he answered me
civilly ; but I thought that in his answer he went
a little beyond the bounds of probability ; for
first of all (I leave it to the reader to judge,) he
told me that the cause of discontinuing my pay
ments was, that money began to be very scarce
at court; but he added, that as soon as ever he
* Alamanno Salviati, son of Jacopo Salviati, who has been
already spoken of, is mentioned by Varchi under the year 1534,
as a youth of the greatest reputation,, and in 1535, as one of the
gentlemen who accompanied the duke Alessandro de' Medici to
Naples. He married Madonna Costanza, daughter and heiress
of Gio. Scrristori, and was the maternal uncle of the duke
Cosmo I . He is frequently named by Vasari as a person much
distinguished in Florence about 1550.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 283
was in cash, he would pay me. He at the same
time loudly declared, that, if he were to neglect
paying me, he should be one of the greatest vil
lains breathing ! I was surprised to hear him use
such an expression : he promised that he would
pay me as soon as ever it was in his power ; but his
actions proved quite contrary to his declarations.
Seeing myself thus hardly treated, I grew very
angry, and giving him a great deal of harsh and
severe language,. put him in mind of all he had
promised. He died soon after, and there still
remain due to me five hundred gold crowns,
now towards the close of the year 1 566*. I then
ceased to. receive any remains of my salary, and
thought they would entirely neglect to pay it ; as
near three years had elapsed. But the duke was
about this time attacked by a dangerous disorder,
and, perceiving that remedies administered by his
physicians did him no service, he had recourse to
the Almighty, and thereupon ordered that all to
whom he was indebted, should receive what
money was due to them : I was paid amongst the
rest ; but not the remainder of what was owing
to me for my statue of Perseus.
I had almost formed a resolution to say nothing
* Cellini having begun to write his life in the latter part of
1558, must have completed this work in about eight years ; but
he must have written great part of it in the first five or six
months of his undertaking, for on the 2d of May, 1559, he
shewed to Varchi a discorso della vita sua, which was this same
work, and which he afterwards continued to increase.

284 MEMOIRS OF
more of my ill-fated Perseus; but as a remark
able accident lays me under a necessity of again
making mention of it, I must for a while resume
my past narrative. I thought what I did was for
the best, when I told the duchess that I could
not compromise what was not in my power ; for
I had assured the duke that I should be satisfied
with whatever his excellency should think pro
per to give me : this I said with a view of ingra
tiating myself, and with some little appearance
of humility I sought every possible method to
appease him. For a few days before he had
made the above-mentioned agreement with Albizi,
he appeared to be very angry with me ; and the
reason was, that happening to complain to him
of some ill usage that I had received from signor
Alfonso Quistello, and signor Jacobo Polverino*,
who belonged to the treasury, and still more of
signor Giambatista Bandini of Volterra, 1 laid
my charge against them with some appearance
of warmth. I then perceived that the duke was
highly incensed, and threw out these angry ex
pressions, " This puts me in mind of your statue
• Giacopo Polverino da Prato, one of the most obnoxious of
Cosmo's ministers, as according to Legni, after having been
appointed judge, he rose into high favour, continually passing
regulations favourable to tlie financial interests of his master,
but oppressive to the people. He was the principal author of
that inhuman and rapacious law, pissed in Florence in 1518,
against the families of state criminals, which on that account
was called Polvcrina.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 285
of Perseus, for which you asked me ten thou
sand crowns : interest has too much sway over
you ; I will get an estimate taken of its value,
and pay you whatever it is rated at." I answered
boldly with some emotion, which is by no means
proper when we have to deal with personages of
high rank, " How is it possible for a proper
estimate to be taken of my statue, when there is
not a man in Florence who is an adequate judge
of its merit ?" The duke was still more provoked
at this, and uttered a great many passionate
expressions, " If there be a man in Florence,"
said he, " able to make one like it, that man
must be capable of forming a proper estimate of
it." When he said this, he had Bandinello, cava
lier of St. Giacopo, in his eye*. " My lord," re
plied I, " your excellency has given me an
opportunity of executing, at the greatest school
in the world, a noble and most arduous work,
which has been more highly extolled than any
other statue hitherto exhibited before, that divine
assembly; and what encourages me most is, that
those excellent men who understand and profess
the business, pass as favourable a judgment on
my performance as the rest : for example, Bron-
zino, the painter, has exerted himself, and writ
ten four sonnets on the occasion, using the most

* BandineUi was created knight of St. Peter by Clement VII.
and by Charles V. knight and commander of the order of St.
James of Compostella.

286 MEMOIRS OF
noble and sublime expressions that could possi
bly enter into his conception ; and it is in conse
quence of the great encomiums bestowed on
my work by this extraordinary person, that the
whole city has so greatly admired it ; and I will
venture to affirm, that if he were to cultivate
sculpture as he does painting, he would very
probably be able to equal it. I must also inform
your excellency, that my master Michel Angelo
Buonarroti could likewise have made such a
one when he was younger than he is at present ;
it would, however, have cost him as much trou
ble as mine has done me ; but now that he is
advanced in years, he is utterly incapable of pro
ducing any thing like it, so that I do not think
there is an artist living capable of equalling my
work. Thus has my performance received the
greatest reward that it was possible for me to
wish ; and still more so as your excellency has
not only declared yourself satisfied with it, but
has even bestowed upon it higher praises than
any body else : what greater or more honourable
reward could I possibly desire? I will, there
fore, affirm, that you could not pay me in more
glorious coin, nor with any sort of treasure
equal to that ; so that I am amply paid, and
thank your excellency with all my heart." —
" That is so far from being the case," answered
the duke, " that you do not think 1 have trea
sure sufficient to satisfy you for your perform
ance ; but I assure you I will pay you much

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 287
more than it is worth." I replied, that I did
not expect any farther recompense from his ex
cellency, but thought myself amply rewarded
by that which I received from the school of Flo
rence ; and with that 1 should presently depart,
if it pleased God, without ever returning to the
house which his excellency had given me, or
ever more desiring to see Florence.
We were just then at Santa Felicita, and the
duke was returning to his palace. Upon my ut
tering these warm and passionate expressions, he
turned> to me, and said angrily, " Don't go away ;
I say again, don't go away upon any account ; "
so that I accompanied him to the palace somewhat
frightened. His excellency thereupon sent for
Bartolini, the archbishop of Pisa, and likewise
for signor Pandolfo della Stufa*, and desired
them to order Baccio Bandinello in his name to
examine my statue of Perseus, and value it, ber
cause he proposed paying me exactly according
to its worth. The two worthy persons named
* Pandolfo della Stufa had been many years in France, cup
bearer to Catherine de' Medici, when dauphiness ; but being ac
cused of having given information respecting the war which
Francis I. was about to commence against the emperor in 1541,
at the moment the Dauphin had been dispatched to surprise
Perpignan, he incurred the blame attached to the failure of this
undertaking, and was consequently imprisoned for many years.
Pandolfo afterwards retired to Italy, and was well received by
the duke Cosmo, who, in 1558, dispatched him into Spain to
solicit the possession of the State of Sienna ; and in 1561, he ad
mitted him into the number of the Forty-eight Senators.

288 MF MOI US OF
above immediately found Baccio Bandinello, and
delivered their message to him ; who said he knew
very well the value of the work, but as he had
had many differences with me, he did not choose
to concern himself in my affairs. The two gen
tlemen then added, " The duke has desired us to
tell you, that he commands you, upon pain of his
displeasure, to set a price upon the statue, and you
may take two or three days to examine it atten
tively, if you think proper ; after which you are
to inform us what the artist deserves for his trou
ble." He thereupon made answer, that he had
examined the statue attentively, and as he could
not avoid obeying the duke's commands, was ob
liged to declare that the work had proved so ad
mirable a master-piece, that in his opinion it was
worth sixteen thousand gold crowns and up
wards. The gentlemen immediately informed
the duke of this decision, who was highly dis
pleased at it: they likewise told me of it ; but I
said, that I would by no means accept of the
praises of Bandinello, as that man spoke ill of
every body. These words of mine were repeated
to the duke, and the duchess again wished me
to leave the whole affair to her. All that I have
here related is strictly true : it would therefore
have been most advisable for me to submit the
whole affair to the duchess, and by so doing I
should probably have soon been paid, and re
ceived a gratification besides.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 289
The duke gave me to understand by signor
Lelio Torelli* his auditor, that he wanted me to
represent certain historical pieces in a basso ri
lievo of bronze round the choir of Sta. Maria del
Fiore ; but as this choir was a work of Bandi-
nello's, I was unwilling to ennoble his petty per
formances by my labours ; though the plan of the
choir was not his, as he had not the least know
ledge of architecture, but that of Giuliano, son of
Baccio d' Agnolot, a carpenter, who spoiled the
* Lelio Torelli da Fano, after having discharged the office of
Judge and Governor in several of the pontifical cities, with
some credit, and been called by the duke Alessandro de' Medici
to the Florentine Council, was promoted to the office of au
ditor by Cosmo, in 1539, and subsequently made first secre
tary or grand chancellor. Possessed of considerable prudence
and experience, Torelli was one of those who restored justice
and good order in the Florentine tribunals, and, together with
Francesco Campana, were the principal directors of Cosmo in
his political designs. He published several legal works, and
a new edition of the Pandects, according to the old Pisan code,
which, after ten years' labour, appeared in 1553, as the work of
his son Francesco, from the press of Torrentino. He also pub
lished upon subjects of general literature, and some Latin and
Italian poems, which obtained for him the office of president of
the Florentine academy, in 1557. In the opinion of Tiraboschi,
he was indebted to the integrity of his principles, his pleasing
manners, sound learning and religion, for his maintenance in
his honours by the Grand Duke Francis I. He died at the age
of 87, in 1576.
f It was Baccio who spoiled the cupola of S. Maria del
Fiore, left unfinished by the death of the former celebrated
artist Filippo di Ser Brunellesco Lapi, in 1546.
VOL. II, U

290 MEMOIRS OF
eupola ; it is sufficient to say of it that it has
no sort of beauty. For both these reasons I
wished to decline being any way concerned in
the work ; though I humbly told the duke, that I
was upon all occasions ready to obey his excel
lency's commands. Soon after this he ordered
the overseers of Sta. Maria del Fiore to talk to me
about the affair; for he proposed to allow me
only my salary of two hundred crowns a-year,
and that in all other respects the overseers were
to supply me out of the fund assigned for carry
ing on the work. So I repaired to the overseers,
who told me the orders they had received from
the duke ; and as I thought I might freely ac
quaint them with all my reasons for disapproving
the work proposed, I began to prove that so many
pieces of history represented in bronze would oc
casion a prodigious expense, and that it would
be nothing else but squandering away money
idly. I laid before them all the causes that in
duced me to think so, and they were very capa
ble of conceiving the full force of what I alleged :
the first was that the manner in which the choir
had been laid out was quite irregular, contrived
without judgment, without the least appearance
of art, convenience, gracefulness, or design ; the
other was, that the historical pieces, by being
placed so low, would be beneath the eye, and
would make a kennel for dogs, and be constantly
defiled with all sorts of ordure. For these rea
sons I declared that I did not choose upon any

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 291
account to be concerned in the work*, that I
might not lose the remainder of my best days
without serving his excellency, whom I was so
ambitious to serve and to oblige : therefore if he
had a desire to employ me, he should rather or
der me to make the middle door of the church of
Sta. Maria del Fiore, which would be a perfor
mance worth seeing, and would do his excellency
much more honour than the other. I added,
that I was willing to enter into a contract, that
* The^choir was also the work of Filippo di Ser Brunellesco,
who designed a model of it in wood, finally intending to execute
it in marble with far richer ornaments. But as near a century
had elapsed before the building was completed, the duke
Cosmo I. engaged Giuliano di Baccio to proceed with the archi
tecture, while BandineUi finished the statues and marbles. These
two artists, in the opinion of Vasari, by departing from the
original design, preserving only the octagon form, and load
ing it with a profusion of ornaments and rilievos, destroyed the
harmony of the whole, and produced a laborious and inelegant
edifice. The frieze was supported by columns, the basements
of which were intended for bas-reliefs in bronze, for which Ban
dineUi substituted those of marble. It is hardly probable that
Cellini had only been fixed upon to take a part in those labours
after producing. his Perseus in 1554, although he himself men
tions it here for the first time ; for BandineUi, in a letter dated
April 1549, observes, that Cellini had been boasting of " having
had half the workmanship of the choir," but continues by say
ing, ." that he was resolved to have no sort of rivalship with
Benvenuto, as he knew him to be a dangerous and cruel man."
And in another to the majordomo Ricci, dated previous to the
exhibition of the Perseus, alluding to the series of bronze
figures for the same choir, he says, " I answered, that Benve
nuto might freely do the whole ;" adding also, with much
u 2

292 MEMOIRS OF
in case I did not in the execution surpass the
finest door of the Church of San Giovanni, I
should ask no reward for my trouble ; but in case
I finished it according to my promise, I consented
that it should be valued, and even then I should
be satisfied with a thousand crowns less than it
was estimated at by those of the profession. The
workmen being highly pleased with what I pro
posed, went to speak of it to the duke, and
amongst others Piero Salviati* attended: they
malice and injustice, " but at the same time I must inform your
excellency, that he is certainly much better fitted to keep such a
series of historic pieces clean and in good order, than to pro
duce them himself, as may be plainly seen in his figures, which
from his ignorance in design are full of faults." The pieces in
tended for representation in basso rilievo were, according to
Vasari, the chief historical relations of the Old Testament, to
consist of twenty-one in number,, several of which, though
Cellini does not here mention it, he had already in hand. There
were also found among others a basso rilievo of Adam and Eve
in wax, after his death. It is mentioned in his Preface to the
two Treatises, and in his petition to the duke, beginning " Sono
costretto dalla disgrazia mia," and given by us in the Ricordi,
where, he says, he had begun the affair for the great work.
* Three Salviati, called Pietro, are mentioned by the Floren
tine historians within the first half of the sixteenth century.
Piero di Jacopo, the duke Cosmo's maternal uncle, who was
made Knight of Malta in 1517, and died prior of Rome in
1525. Piero di Leonardo, who married Cassandra Altoviti in
1521, and was elected to the council of two hundred in 1532 ;
and Piero, son of Alamanno d' Averardo Salviati, elected sena
tor, and afterwards found at the head of tlie Florentine youth in
the attempt to drive out the Medici. Of this latter, I am of

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 293
thought that what they were going to propose
would prove highly agreeable to his excellency.
It proved, however, quite the reverse ; for he said
that I was for doing the very contrary of what he
would have me do : so Piero left the duke with
out coming to any conclusion.
When I heard what had passed between them,
I waited on the duke, who seemed to be some
what offended with me. I begged he would con^
descend so far as to hear what I had to say in my
defence, and he promised me he would : sO I be
gan to give him a full account of the whole affair,
and used so many arguments to explain the na
ture of the thing to his excellency, and convince
him that to engage in such an undertaking would
be only throwing away money, that 1 greatly sof
tened him, and then took occasion to observe that
if he did not choose to have the door I mentioned,
it was absolutely necessary to make two pulpits
to the choir, and that they would be two noble
works, and do him honour : I added that I would
adorn them with a number of historical pieces in
basso rilievo of bronze, together with a variety of
other embellishments. In this manner did I ap
pease his excellency, who gave me orders to
begin the models without delay. I made a va
riety of models, and took a great deal of pains on
opinion that Cellini, Vasari, and other writers of that period
mean to speak, when they mention him only under the name of
Pietro Salviati.

294 MEMOIRS OF
the occasion : amongst others I made one with
eight faces more carefully than any of the rest,
and thought it much better adapted to the pur
pose it was intended to answer than the others.
As I had carried the models several times to the
palace, his excellency ordered signor Caesar, his
wardrobe keeper, to desire me to leave them. I
perceived afterwards that the duke had made
choice ofthe very worst. One day his excellency
sent for me, and in some conversation which we
had concerning these models, I proved to him by
many arguments, that the model with eight faces
was the best calculated for the purpose, and by
much the most beautiful of them all. The duke
answered that he chose I should make it quadran
gular, because he liked that form best ; so he con
versed with me a long time upon the subject with
good humour. I did not fail to say on the occa
sion every thing that my knowledge of the art
suggested : and whether the duke at last became
sensible that I spoke the truth, or was resolved
to have the thing his own way, a considerable
time passed without his mentioning it to me
again.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 295

CHAPTER XX.

Contest between Cellini and Bandinello about a statue of
Neptune. — The duchess favours Bandinello, but Cellini pre
vails on the duke to consent that whoever should produce the
best design should have the marble.— The preference is given
to Cellini's design, and Bandinello dies through vexation. —
The duchess causes the marble to be given to Bartolommeo
Ammanato. — Account of a remarkable transaction between
Cellini and one Sbietta. — He narrowly escapes being poisoned
by Sbietta's wife, who is encouraged in that design by Fi
lippo, a profligate priest. — Cellini, during his illness, which
lasted six months, is supplanted at court by Bartolommeo
Ammanato. About this time the great block of marble for
a statue of Neptune was brought up the river
Arno, and carried through the road which leads
to Poggio a Cajano, that it might afterwards be
conveyed the more easily to Florence*, by that
* It will farther, appear, that the time when this marble was
conveyed to Florence, intended for the gigantic statue of Nep
tune placed near the fountain of the Ducal .Piazza, must have

296 MEMOIRS OF
level road where I went to see it. And though I
know to a certainty, that the duchess had by her
interest procured it for the cavalier Bandinello,
yet not through any envy to that artist, but moved
to compassion for the destiny of the unfortunate
marble, I took a view of it, measured its height
and thickness every way, and at my return to
Florence made several little models for it. I must
here observe by the way, that when we endeavour
to preserve any great thing from evil, it often
meets with a worse fate than that from which we
rescued it : as was the case of this marble, by
falling into the hands of Bartolommeo Ammanato,
of whom I shall speak in a proper place. Having
made the little models above-mentioned, I re
paired to Poggio a Cajano, where the duke and
duchess were with the prince their son : I found
them all at table, and the duke dined in private
with the duchess, so that I began to enter into
conversation with the prince. As I talked with
been towards the beginning of the year 1559. From that period
Cellini has related little or nothing of his life during 1555 and
the three following years. This marble, it is asserted by Vasari,
was ten and a half yards high, and five broad. On this account
it could not be conveyed up die Arno, as the water was too
shallow to float it all the way. In the same manner the mar
bles for the Hercules and Cacus, were brought the last eight
miles from Florence by land. Whoever is acquainted with the
topography of Tuscany, will here detect a gross error of Cellini's,
in placing the river Greve, on the road from the Arno to Cajano,
on the right side of the Arno, while it happens to be on the
other side.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 297
him a considerable time, the duke, who was in an
apartment hard by, overheard us, and in a very
polite manner sent for me. As soon as I came
into the presence of their excellencies, the
duchess began to converse with me with great
good humour : I contrived to turn the subject of
the conversation to the block of marble.
I observed that their ancestors had rendered
the noble school of Florence so illustrious, by
exciting emulation amongst the men of genius in
the several different professions: it was this that
produced the admirable cupola, the beautiful
doors of the church of San Giovanni, and so
many other noble temples and statues, reflect
ing such high honour on this city, which never
could boast such ornaments since the days of the
ancients*. The duchess peevishly replied, that
* Two of the noblest gates belonging to St. Giovanni, and
the cupola of the dome at Florence, were the workmanship of
the combined talents and generous union of the very first artists
ofthe times. Respecting the first, Vasari observes that after the
plague of Florence, in 1400, the senate and the merchants' com
pany came to the resolution of forming the two great gates, still
wanting to the Church of San Giovanni, of solid bronze, invi
ting all the most distinguished masters in Italy to appear at
Florence, in order to make trial of their skill. From out of
innumerable candidates seven were chosen, to whom salaries
were appointed, in order that they might produce within the
first year the subject of the sacrifice of Isaac, in an historic
piece, of bronze, similar to those placed in the first gate of the
same temple from the hand of Andrew Pisano, in 1340, inform
ing which the three modes of the intero, the mezzo, and the

298 MEMOIRS OF
she knew very well what I would be at, and
desired I would never speak again of that mar
ble in her presence, as nothing could give her
greater offence. " I then offend you," said I,
" madam, by becoming an agent for your excel
lencies, and exerting myself to the utmost to
have you well served. Consider seriously, that
if your excellencies are willing to permit every
artist to produce a model of Neptune, even
though you are resolved to give the preference to
Bandinello's, this will excite him, for his own
honour, to exert himself with the more ardour in
making a beautiful model, than he would have
done were he to have no competitor : thus will
your excellencies be better served, and will
avoid discouraging your excellent school; and
basso rilievo, were all employed. By choice of thirty-four per
sons, excellently skilled in a knowledge of the arts, Lorenzo
Ghiberti, then only twenty-three, was fixed upon to conduct
this great work, the cost of which was 22,000 florins, and
which has since been looked upon as a master-piece of art. For
the cupola was appointed Filippo di Ser BruneUeschi, who pre
vailed upon the directors of the dome and the " consoli deU'
arte della Lana," not to confine their invitations to Italian ar
chitects in contending for this great undertaking, but to request
the service of those most distinguished among other nations, by
giving order to the Florentine merchants in France, England>
Germany, and Spain, to spare no labour and expense to induce
the princes of those countries to send the best artists to Flo
rence. In a short period after there were there assembled the
inosl celebrated masters of the age, from all of whom Filippo
bore away the palm, as well in design as in the works he exe
cuted.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 299
will likewise see who applies closest to this
admirable art ; I mean its1 elegant manner; and
you will appear both to delight in it, and be
judges of its beauties." The duchess then told
me in a passion that I tired her- patience, that
she was resolved the marble should be Bandi-
nello's ; adding, that the duke himself was de
termined that Bandinello should have it. When
the duchess ceased speaking, the duke, who had
continued silent all the time, replied, " It is
now twenty years since I caused this fine piece
of marble to be dug up out of the quarry on
purpose for Bandinello, and therefore it is my
pleasure that he should have it, and it shall be
his." I thereupon turned to the duke, and beg
ged it as a favour that he would give me leave
just to say four words to him for his excellency's
advantage. The duke bade me say whatever I
thought proper, telling me that he would listen
with attention. I then said, " You are to under
stand, my lord, that the marble of Which Ban
dinello made Hercules and Cacus, was taken out1
of the quarry by the renowned Michel Angelo
Buonarroti, who made of it a model of Samson
with four figures, which would have been one of
the first pieces in the whole world : and your
favourite Bandinello made of it only two figures,
both ill executed, and put together in the most
bungling manner. Therefore the admirable school
of Florence still exclaims against the great injury
that was done to that fine piece of marble. I

300 MEMOIRS OF
really believe there were above a thousand son
nets posted up to ridicule that wretched per
formance, and I am sure your excellency remem
bers the thing very well. If, therefore, my wor
thy lord, the men to whose care that business
was intrusted were so injudicious as to take
so valuable a piece of marble from Michel An
gelo, and give it to Bandinello*, who spoiled it,
as it evidently appears ; can you ever think of
suffering the same person to spoil this other much
finer block, and not give it to some other artist
of abilities capable of doing it justice? Give
orders, my lord, for each artist to make a model ;
let them all be laid before the academy ; your
excellency will then hear its opinion concerning
them, and with your- usual judgment be able to
choose the best: thus you will avoid throwing
away your money, and discouraging a school
which is now the most renowned in the world,
and reflects such honour on your excellency."
The duke, after having listened very attentively,
rose on a sudden from table, and turning to me,
said, " Go, my friend Benvenuto, make a model
* For farther information relating to this group of Hercules
and Cacus, see the xith vol. of Vasari (p. 272), where, we are
informed, that Pope Clement, by the advice of his agent Dome
nico Buoninsegni, gave the block of marble to Baccio, the said
Domenico being instigated by resentment for Buonarroti's hav
ing refused to assist him in robbing the Pope in his accounts
relating to the works which he was then engaged in executing
at Florence.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 301
and endeavour to win that fine piece of marble,
for I am sensible that what you say is just."
The duchess shook her head at me, and muttered
something as if she were angry ; but 1, bowing
to their excellencies, made all the haste I could
to return to Florence, being quite impatient to
begin the model.
The duke was no sooner arrived at Florence,
but he, without giving me any previous notice,
came to my house, when I shewed him two little
models quite different from each other. He
praised them both, but added that one of them
pleased him much more than the other; and
bidding me finish that he was pleased with, told
me I should find my account in it. As his excel
lency had seen those made by Bandinello and
the other artists, he greatly preferred mine to the
rest, for so I was informed by several courtiers
who had heard him. Amongst other circum
stances worthy of being related, one was, that
the Cardinal di Santa Fiore being come to Flo
rence, the duke carried him with him to Poggio
a Cajano : by the way the Cardinal seeing the
piece of marble above-mentioned, praised it
highly, and asked who his excellency intended
should work upon it*. The duke answered,
* On the elevation of the Cardinal Gio. Angelo de' Medici to
the pontifical chair, on the Christmas eve of 1559, under the
name of Pius IV., he immediately bestowed his Cardinal's bene
fice on Don Giovanni, second son to the duke Cosmo, who
had exerted his influence in obtaining his election, though he

302 MEMOIRS OF
" My Benvenuto, who has drawn me an excellent
model." This was repeated to me by persons worthy
of credit, and on that account I waited on the
duchess, and carried her some pretty little trifles
of my making, which her excellency liked very
much. She asked me what I was at that time
about? I answered, " Madam, I have undertaken
one of the most laborious tasks in the world by
way of amusement ; the task I mean is a Christ
crucified, of the whitest marble, upon a cross of
the blackest, and as big as the life." Upon her
asking me what I proposed to do with it, I thus
replied, " I assure you, madam, I would not sell
it for two thousand ducats ; for no man ever took
so much pains with a piece of work; nor could I
have undertaken to make such a one for any
nobleman, for fear of discovering my want of
capacity, and being put to confusion. I bought
the marble with my own money, and kept a
young man about two years to assist me; and
what with purchasing marble and tools, and pay
ing him a salary, the work has stood me in above
three hundred crowns, so that I again declare I
would not give it for two thousand ducats : but
was then only a youth of fifteen years of age. The Cardinal Lo
dovico di Lorena, more commonly called the Cardinal of Guise,
with the Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, were dispatched for this pur
pose to Florence, February 1560. The last of these was a
great favourite, and intimately related to the family of the duke
Cosmo.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 303
if your excellency will do me one favour, I will
freely make you a present of it : all I desire is,
that you will be neutral with respect to the models
of a Neptune, which the duke has ordered to be
made of the great marble." The duchess an
swered with great indignation, " It seems then
you neither value my interest nor my opposition?"
I replied, " You quite mistake me, madam, I
know very well the consequence of both ; why
else do I offer you what I value at two thousand
ducats ? But 1 rely so much on my diligence and
acquired knowledge, that I have good hopes of
winning the prize, even if it were disputed with
me by the great Michel Angelo Buonarroti, from
whom alone I learned all I know : and I would
much rather that he who knows so much should
make a model, than the others that know so
little ; for much honour might be won by entering
the lists with my renowned master, but there can
be very little in contending with inferior artists."
When I had made an end of speaking, the
duchess rose angrily; and I returned to my
model, working at it with all. assiduity. As soon
as I had finished it, the duke came to see it,
accompanied by two ambassadors, one from the
duke of Ferrara, the other from the republic of
Lucca. My model gave high satisfaction, and the
duke said to the ambassadors, " Benvenuto de
serves the prize." Thereupon both the noble
personages- complimented me highly, especially
the ambassador of the republic of Lucca,

304 MEMOIRS OF
who was a man of learning, and had taken the
degree of doctor*. I retired to some distance,
that they might speak their sentiments freely.
When I found they were favourable to me, I ap
proached, and turning to the duke, said, " My
lord, your excellency should have recourse to
another expedient, which is to give orders that
each artist should make a model of earth exactly
of the same size as the marble st.itue; by which
means your excellency will be much better able
to tell who deserves the preference. And I must
farther take the liberty to observe, that if you
give the prize to an artist who is not deserving
of it, you will not so much injure the person
that has merit as yourself, for both loss and
shame will result to you from such a decision:
whereas, by a contrary conduct, that is, by giv
ing it to him that is worthy of it, you will, in
the first place, acquire great reputation ; you
next will lay out your money to advantage, and

* The duke Ercole II. da Este, of Ferrara, was the ally and
lieutenant-general of the King of France in Italy, and violently
opposed the interests of the King of Spain and the duke Cosmo I.
In 1558, having despatched Alessandro Fiaschi, knight of St.
Jago, into Tuscany, he consented to a treaty with the duke, and
also through his mediation with the King of Spain. This peaco
was farther confirmed by a marriage between Ercole's son Al
fonso and the duke Cosmo's third daughter Lucrezia, celebrated
on the 18th of June in the same year, though the bride, on
account of her extreme youth, did not arrive at Ferrara until
the 14th of February, 1560, four months after Alfonzo had
roine into possession of the dukedom.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 305
men of genius will think that you delight in
the polite arts, and are a judge of abilities."
When 1 had made an end of speaking, the duke
shrugged up his shoulders; and as he was just
going, the ambassador from Lucca said to him,
" My lord, this Benvenuto of yours is a man of
great spirit." The duke replied, " He has more
spirit than you are aware of; and it would have
been well for him if he had less, for he would
then have obtained many gratifications which he
has missed." These words were repeated to me
by the ambassador, who at the same time chid
me for not acting the courtier better. I. answered,
that I wished well to my lord, was his affec
tionate and faithful servant, but could not stoop
to the arts of flattery and adulation.
Some weeks after, Bandinello * died, and it was
* From Vasari and Baldinucci, as well as from the epitaph
on BandineUi in the Annunziata at Florence, we are led to
place this event in 1559, though there is no where any indication
of the month, except from this passage of Cellini, which seems
to refer it to one of the latter months of the Florentine year,
between February and the 25th of March, 1560, according to
the Roman calendar.
Respecting the last quarrel between Baccio and Cellini, and
the whole story of the Fontano di Piazza, and of the Neptune
marble, it will be as well to give the remaining anecdotes pre
served in the Letters of BandineUi, published among the
'' Pittoriche," as also from Vasari, where the accounts differ so
much from those given by Cellini. In these letters there is
frequent mention of the fountain with which the duke was
desirous of ornamenting his Piazza: the duchess Eleonora,
VOL. II. X

306 MEMOIRS OF
generally thought, that, besides his disorder, the
grief which he felt at losing the fine piece of
marble, out of which the statue of Neptune was
to be made, greatly contributed to hasten his
dissolution. Bandinello had heard of my making
having given orders to Baccio to add, among other embellish
ments, a fountain to the Palazzo Pitti, which BandinelU men
tions in a letter to the ducal secretary, Giacopo Guidi, dated
February 1551 : "I have taken particular notice of the ground
where the palace is situated, intended for the fountain ; and I
hope to design some little ornaments in the taste the noble
duchess has intimated to me, most likely to give her pleasure."
Afterwards, in reply to one he had received, he continues, " I
am busy with designs for the fountain, and I have written to
Luca Martini, to beg that they may be compared as fast as he
receives them." After completing the designs, he again wrote in
the following terms to Guidi : " Please to attend to the designs
I have sent for the fountain, as it is an object that it should
surpass every thing that has been done in tliis way before. I
have spared no pains in examining the first masters who pro
duced the grand fountains at Messina on such a vast scale and
at such an enormous expense ; but I think I may venture to pro
mise her excellency, that when I have completed my under
taking, she will see one not only much superior to these, but
beyond any possessed by the Greeks or Romans, and at a com
paratively trifling expense."
We here discover no mention of the Neptune, which must,
therefore, have been a subsequent work ; and even the grand
marble block, ten yards and a half in height, could not then
have been known to Baccio, as in a letter to Guidi in 1552,
speaking of another marble from Carrara, out of which, accord
ing to Vasari, he produced the statue " del Dio Padre," two
years before his death, he mentions it, though of less dimensions
than the former, as the finest block then known : "Pray be so

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 307
the marble crucifix, of which I have spoken
above: he thereupon took a small piece of marble,
and made that figure of Piety, which is to be seen
in the church of the Nunziata*. As I had dedi
cated my crucifix to Santa Maria Novella, and
good as to tell her excellency, that Francione di Carrara has been
here, and I have waited on the Provveditore, in order that the
marble " del Dio Padre," equally sound and beautiful, may not be
taken out of our hands." But after all the conjectures we are
enabled to form upon these letters, we have seen that Cellini
makes the duke say " that he had, twenty years before, cut
out that piece of marble for BandineUi :" and Vasari thinks
that the idea of making the fountain for the Piazza originated
in the discovery of the marble, observing, that the same had
been got out at Carrara some years before 1559. Baccio,,
having intimation of it, set out on horseback, and having agreed
for it (as it is believed), through the mediation of fifty crowns
from the duke as an earnest to the owner, he made such a noise
about it, that the duchess prevailed uppn the duke to let Baccio
have it, in order to model a giant, to be placed in the Piazza on
the side of the lion, where a grand fountain should also be con
structed spouting out water, in the midst of which Neptune
was to be seen in a car drawn by sea horses; and for this figure
the marble was intended.
* The figure of " La Pieta,'' here noticed by Cellini, repre
sents the bqdy of our Saviour, supported by Nicodemus. It
had been first begun by a son of Baccio's, named Clement, who,
however, had been compelled by his father's harshness; and
extravagancies to leave Florence, although of great assistance
to him in his art, and had died shortly before at Rome. From
Vasari we learn that Baccio was desirpus of completing the
work of his son, that he might compete with Buonarroti, who
was then engaged at Rome in that fine group of the Dead
Christ, consisting of five figures, and intended for the Sepulchre
x2

308 MEMOIRS OF
already fixed up the irons to fasten it upon, I
wanted nothing farther but to erect, on the
ground under the crucifix, a little monument to
be buried in after my death. The monks told
me, they could not grant my request, without
asking leave of the overseers of the building;
" Why then," said I, " did you not consult the
overseers, before you permitted me to fix the
irons in this place for setting up my crucifix?"
For this reason I resolved not to give my work to
this church of Santa Maria Novella, though the
overseers afterwards came and made me an apo
logy. I therefore repaired to the church of the
Nunziata, and told the monks, that I would make
them a present of my crucifix, in the same man
ner as I had proposed bestowing it on the church
of Sta. Maria Novella; upon which the good bre
thren of the Nunziata bade me set up my crucifix
in their church, and erect my tomb in what
ever manner I thought proper. Bandinello, being
informed of this, made all the haste he could to
finish his figure of Piety, and requested the
duchess to grant him the chapel, formerly be
longing to the Pazzi *, which he at last with great

of Sta. Maria Maggiore : though, from a defect in the marble,
it was never finished; but by order of Cosmo III. deposited
behind the choir of Santa Maria del Fiore, near the Adam and
Eve of Baccio, removed elsewhere on account of being repre
sented naked. Borghino informs us, that BandineUi gave us
his own portrait in tlie face of Nicodemus.
* Through the intervention of the duchess, the Pazzi permitted
Baccio to erect a marble altar, on which to place his statues,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 309
difficulty obtained, and, as soon as he accom
plished his desire, he erected his tomb in it,
which was not completely finished when he
died. The duchess then said, "That she had
befriended him during his life, and would conti
nue her regard for him even after his decease ; for
though he was no more, Benvenuto must never
expect to have the marble in his possession."
Bernardone the broker, happening one day to
meet me in town, told me, that the duchess had
given away the marble, upon which I exclaimed,
" O ill-fated stone, hard indeed was thy lot in
falling into the hands of Bandinello; but it is a
hundred times more deplorable, now thou art in
those of Ammanato * !"

with a sepulchre below, in their Capella deU' Annunziata.
Baccio proceeding with too great eagerness and enthusiasm in
his labours, having placed the remains of his father, Michel-
angiolo with his own hands on the sepulchre, removed from
another place, was taken suddenly ill, and died eight days after
wards, aged seventy-two years. He had always enjoyed before
a sound and uninterrupted state of good health.
* Bartolommeo Ammanati, born at Settignano, near Florence,
in 1511, studied the principles of design under BandineUi,
and sculpture under Sansovino, in Venice. Returning to Flo
rence, he acquired such reputation by his statues for the new
Sagrestia di S. Lorenzo, that in spite of Bandinello's ill offices,
he was employed in many works at Urbino, Venice, Padua, and
even in Florence. In 1550 he had the good fortune to marry the
celebrated Laura daughter of Gio. Antonio Battiferi da Urbino,
heiress to immense riches, and distinguished throughout all
Italy for her fine poetical genius and accomplishments. Her

310 MEMOIRS OF
I had received directions from the duke to make
a model of earth, of the same size as the statue
of marble was intended : at the same time he or
dered me to be furnished with wood and earth,
and a little partition to be erected in the apart
ment where I had made my Perseus : he likewise
paid the wages of a workman who was to assist
poems were received with distinguished approbation, as we
gather from Caro's Letters, and published at Florence in 1560.
Bartolommeo afterwards went to Rome, where he wholly devoted
himself to the study of architecture and antiquities, on which he
wrote a treatise, for the purpose of giving designs ofthe various
sorts of edifices requisite in a city. Through the means of Vasari,
he became reconciled to Buonarroti, with whom, when young,
he had had some difference; and after working for the Pope<
(Giulio III.) finding his services not sufficiently requited, he was
1 recommendd by Vasari as sculptor and architect to the duke
Cosmo. On the dreadful inundation of the Arno, in September 1557,
Ammanato was employed as ducal engineer to repair the embank
ments and buildings destroyed by the waters, in which he dis
played his talents by restoring them with additional grandeur
and solidity. In erecting the bridge of Santa Trinita, he was
acknowledged to have succeeded in producing one of the very
finest known among the moderns.
In 1559 he competed with BandineUi and Cellini for the
Neptune marble, which he obtained on the death of the former,
both on account of his age and greater experience as a sculptor.
The duke, as well as Vasari and Buonarroti, to whom he sent a
model of his design in wood, seem also to have favoured his
pretensions, in preference to those of Cellini. He finished the
statue in 1563, and on the exliibition of the entire fountain,
Vasari declared that BandineUi would have succeeded better in
the work.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 311
me. I set about my model with the utmost assi
duity, made the skeleton in wood, with the
greatest exactness, and brought my work hap
pily to a conclusion. I gave myself no farther
trouble about making the statue ; for I knew that
the duchess was determined that I should not
have the fine block of marble, and therefore I was
in some measure indifferent about it. I however
took pleasure in exerting myself as I did, promis
ing myself that as soon as I had finished it, the
duchess, who did not want discernment, would,
after she had seen the work, be sorry that she
had done both the marble and herself so much
injustice. Giovanni Fiamingo* made one model in the
* Gio. Bologna, of Douay in Flanders, devoted liimself, in
spite of his father's remonstrances, who wished him to embrace
the law, to the cultivation of the fine arts, studying under
the sculptor and engineer Beuch, his fellow-countryman. He
went to Rome, where he applied his talents to modelling from
the antique for several years ; and on returning through Flo
rence on his way home, he became known and appreciated. He
was invited to the house of Bernardo Vecchietti, where he took
the opportunity of making himself intimately acquainted with the
works of Michel Angelo ; and, attaching himself to Florence and
its society, never afterwards left it. In the competition for the
Neptune marble, being only thirty-four years of age, his design
on that occasion, according to Vasari, though the best among
those offered to the duke, was not even noticed by him. He
soon, however, became known at court, where his productions,
both in marble and bronze, no 'less noble than that ofthe Nep
tune, obtained for him a high reputation. His Rape of the Sa-
bines, a fine marble group, placed at the side of Cellini's Per-'

312 MEMOIRS OF
cloisters of St. Croce ; another was done by Vin-
cenzio Danti*, of Perugia, in the house of signor
Ottavio de' Medici ; another was begun by the son

seus, under an arch of the Piazza at Florence, with some histori
cal pieces in bronze at the base ; his Colossus, called L'Appenino,
in the Grand Ducal Villa of Pratolino; the Equestrian statue of
Cosmo I., in the Piazza at Florence, and the grand Fountain in the
Piazza of S. Petronio at Bologna, with other excellent works,
both in bronze and marble, held in the highest estimation
throughout most of the cities of Italy, are sufficient testimony of
his admirable genius. He died in Florence, at the age of eighty-
four, in the month of August 1608.
* Vincenzio Danti (whose grandfather, from imitating the style
of the great poet, took the surname of Danti, handed down to his
descendants) began his career as a goldsmith, and afterwards
distinguished himself as a sculptor and architect, and in casting
in bronze. At the age of twenty-three, he modelled the statue
of Giulio III. four yards in height, placed in the Piazza of Peru
gia, and considered a noble specimen of art. By some admirable
contrivances he supplied a fountain at the same place with water,
which the citizens had believed to be irreparably gone. Return
ing to Florence, Vincenzio cast many fine pieces, and worked in
marble for tlie duke Cosmo, Sforza Almeni, and many others,
with distinguished success. Besides his excellence as an artist,
he possessed considerable talent for poetry, publishing some
pieces in 1567, as well as a Treaty on Perfect Proportions,
which is now become extremely rare. He was selected by the
duke to make designs of the Escurial for the king of Spain, which
were so much approved by Philip II. that he received an imme
diate invitation to the Spanish court. But enjoying himself in
privacy, and of a weak state of health, Vincenzio was unwilling
to leave Italy ; and died shortly afterwards, at the early age of
46, in Perugia, May 26th, 1576. He was brother to the cele
brated Ignazio Danti, one ofthe first mathematicians ofthe six
teenth century, who took the meridian of S. Petronio, and drew

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 313
of Moschino*, at Pisa ; and another again was
made by Bartolommeo Ammanati in my working
room, which we had divided between us. When
I had well bronzed it over, and was going to finish
the head, the duke came from the palace with
Giorgetto the painter, to Ammanato's apartment,
in order to view the statue of Neptune, upon
which Giorgetto had worked several days with
his own hands, in conjunction with Ammanato
and all his' journeymen. I was informed, that,
when his excellency saw it, he appeared to be by
no means satisfied; and though Giorgetto with
his chatter wanted to persuade him into a good
opinion of the work, the duke shook his head,
and turning to signor Giorgio Stefano, bade him
go ask Benvenuto, whether his great model was
in such forwardness that he could let him have a
sight of it. Stefano thereupon in a very kind and
polite manner delivered me this message from the
duke ; adding, that if I did not think my work
would yet bear inspection, I might say so with-

the excellent geographical tables of Italy for Pope Gregory
XIII. preserved in the Vatican gallery, with a variety of other
excellent works.
* Simone Mosca, a famous Florentine sculptor, whose life is
given in Vasari. He left a son, also a distinguished architect
and sculptor, who received the surname of Moschino. After
studying with great success under his father at Rome, he was
admitted into the Academy for Design in Florence, and entering
mto the service of duke Cosmo, erected two chapels of the Cathe
dral at Pisa, by whicli he acquired great and deserved honours.

14 MEMOIRS OE
out reserve, as the duke was well aware that I
had not been properly seconded in an under
taking of such importance. I answered, " that
I should be glad of the favour of his excellency's
presence ; that even if my work were not in any
great forwardness, so penetrating a genius as his
excellency could easily, from the specimen, form
a judgment of what it would prove when entirely
finished." The gentleman delivered the message
to the duke, who came with great cheerfulness.
No sooner had he entered the room, and cast his
eye upon my work, but he appeared to be highly
pleased with it : he examined it on all sides, fix
ing particularly upon the four principal points of
view, just as a complete artist might have done ;
he then shewed by many gestures, that he was
highly pleased with it, and said nothing farther
but, " Benvenuto, you have the last coat to lay
on still." At length he turned to his attendants,
and spoke of my performance in the most ad
vantageous terms, declaring that the little model
which he saw at my house, pleased him greatly,
but that this work of mine had far surpassed that
model.* As it pleased God, who makes all things
cooperate to our advantage — I mean to the ad
vantage of those that acknowledge and be-

* The preference here stated to have been given by the duke
to tlie model of Cellini, is expressly contradicted both by Vasari
and Baldinucci, as we have before mentioned.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 315
lieve in his Divine Majesty — about this time
an old rogue, from Vicchio, whose name was
Piermaria of Anterigoli*, and his surname Sbietta,
offered to sell me a farm for my natural life,
that is, to sell me an annuity. This man fol
lowed the business of a grazier, and, as he was
related to signor Guido Guidi the physician, who
is now chief magistrate of Pescia, I readily
listened to his proposal. This farm I did not
choose to go to see, being impatient to finish my
model of the great statue of Neptune : besides,
there was no occasion for my seeing it, as he only
Sold me the income of it, and had given me a
written account of the measures of grain, wine,
oil, corn, chesnuts and other commodities, the
produce ofthe farm; all which, I took for granted,
must, as times then were, be worth above a hun-
i
dred gold crowns; so I paid him a hundred and
feixty crowns for them, including the duties. Af
ter he had given me a writing signed with his own
hand, which imported, that he would during his
natural life take care to see me paid the income
of the above farm, I thought it unnecessary to
go and take a view of it, but inquired whether
the said Sbietta and his brother Filippo were
good men, such as might be depended upon ; and
was assured by several of their acquaintances
* In the Ricordi of Cellini, this fellow is called " Pier Maria
di Ser Vespasiano Qanterigoli.

316 MEMOIRS OF
that they were, and I might feel perfectly secure.
We agreed to send for Pier Francesco Bertoldi the
notary ; and the first thing I put into his hand
was the written account of what Sbietta was to
make good to me, thinking that it should by all
means enter into the contract; but the notary
who drew it up, busied himself with two-and-
twenty different articles, which were mentioned
to him by Sbietta, and, as I thought, seemed to
forget the main part of the contract, which was
the payment of the annuity. Whilst the notary
was busied in writing, I worked on, and as he
was several hours in drawing the deed, in the
mean time I made a considerable part of the
head of my Neptune. The instrument being at
last entirely completed, Sbietta began to lavish
caresses on me, as I in my turn did on him. He
made me presents of kids, cheeses, capons, cakes,
and a variety of different fruits, till at last I
began to be quite ashamed. In return for these
favours, every time he came to Florence, I took
him home with me from his inn, and he was fre
quently accompanied by some of his relations,
whom I likewise invited to my house.
One day he told me in a jocular manner, that
it was a shame that after I had bought a farm,
and several weeks had passed since I made the
purchase, I could not discontinue my business for
a few days, and go and see it. Such an effect had
his insinuations on my mind, that I at last, to my
misfortune, did comply with his desire. Sbietta

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 317
received me with such caresses and outward
ceremony, that he could not have done more for
a duke, and his. wife seemed to be still fonder of
me than her husband ; which continued for a time,
till what he and his brother Filippo had concerted
between them had taken effect. At the same
time I went on with my work, and had already
sketched out the whole with an exactness un
known to any artist before me : so that, though I
was sure not to get the marble for the reasons
assigned, I thought myself upon the point of
finishing and exhibiting it in the public square for
my own satisfaction. The weather was warm and
pleasant, so that being much importuned by the
two villains above-mentioned, I set out from my
villa on Wednesday, which was doubly a holi
day, for Trespiano *, and ate a good breakfast on
my arrival at Vicchio|. I met Filippo the priest,
at the very gate of Vicchio, who seemed to know
where I was going, and to be extremely fond of
my company. He conducted me to Sbietta's
house, where was his shameless wife, who like
wise seemed lavish of her caresses to me : I made
her a present of a straw hat, and she declared
that she had never seen a finer. Sbietta happened
* It appears in one of the Ricordi of Cellini, dated the 26 th
October 1558, that on the same day he purchased a country-seat
at Trespiano from Cristofano Buontalenti. The villa is situated
to the north-east of Florence.
-V Vicchio is situated on the left bank of the Arno, about seven
miles to the east of Florence, and six to the south of Trespiano.

318 MEMOIRS OF
not to be then at home. Evening approaching,
we all supped together very cheerfully; and when
it was time to retire, I was shewn into a handsome
apartment, where I slept in an exceeding good
bed, and my two servants were accommodated in
a manner agreeable to their station. The same
caresses were repeated when I rose in the morn
ing. I went to take a view of my farm, with
which I was highly pleased, and a certain quan
tity of corn and all sorts of grain were given me :
I then returned to Vicchio, and Filippo said to
me at our parting, " Benvenuto, don't be under
any apprehensions ; for though you have not re
ceived as much as was promised you, you must
not be disheartened, for you will meet with an
ample compensation, as you have honest people
to deal with. I must however caution you against
yon labourer, whom we have turned off, because
he is a rogue." This labourer, whose name was
Mariano Rosselli, often said to me, " Take care
of yourself, or you will know to your cost, who
amongst us is the greatest villain." When that
country-fellow spoke to me in this manner, he
smiled archly and shook his head, as much as to
say, you will one day find that I speak the
truth. I was guilty of an error in judgment, but was
not at all mistaken in what happened to me.
Returning from my farm, which is about two
miles distant from Vicchio towards the Alps, I
met Filippo the priest, who received me with his

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 319
usual caresses; so we breakfasted together. I
then went to take a walk about the town of
Vicchio, and the market was already begun. I
perceived that I was stared at by all the inha
bitants of the place, as an object they were not
at all accustomed to ; above all by a worthy man
who had lived many years in the town, and whose
wife made bread for sale. This honest person
had, at about a mile's distance, some lands of his
own, though he chose to live in that manner : he
rented a house of mine in Vicchio, which fell to
me with the farm known by the name of the
Fountain. As we happened to fall into conversa
tion, he said to me, " I live in your house, and
will pay you your rent when it becomes due ; or
if you choose to receive it before-hand, you may,
for I am resolved we shall have no disputes."
Whilst we were thus talking together, I perceived
that the man several times fixed his eyes upon
me attentively; so I could not help saying to
him, "Dear Giovanni, why do you look at me
with such earnestness ?" The worthy man made
answer, " I will tell you with all my heart, if you
promise upon your honour not to discover your
author." I solemnly promised him that I would
not. He thereupon continued, "You must un
derstand then, this vile priest signor Filippo, a
few days ago went about making his boasts of
the great feats of his brother Sbietta, and declar
ing that he had sold a farm of his for life to an
old man, who would never see the end of the

320 MEMOIRS OF
year. You have a number of villains to deal
with ; therefore take care of yourself, and be con
stantly upon your guard : I say no more."
In my walks up and down the town, 1 met
Giambattista Santini, and both he and I were
invited to supper by the priest. It was then
between five and six, and supper had been or
dered at this early hour on my account, for I
had declared my intention of returning in the
evening to Trespiano. Supper was, therefore,
prepared in all haste, and Sbietta's wife was very
active on the occasion, as was likewise one Cec-
chino Buti, a servant of theirs. As soon as the
salads were dressed, and the guests began to sit
down to table, the villain of a priest made a sort
of a wry face, and said, " I must ask pardon of
you all, but I cannot possibly have the pleasure
of supping with you, for an affair of great con
sequence has since happened, in which my bro
ther Sbietta is concerned; and as he is not in the
way himself, I am under a necessity of supply
ing his place." We all pressed him to stay, but
not being able to prevail on him to alter his pur
pose, we sat down to supper. As soon as we
had eaten the salads off certain little dishes, the
boiled meat beginning to be served about, por
ringers were distributed to all the guests. San-
tino, who sat opposite to me at table, said,
" They give you napkins quite different from the
rest : did you ever see finer ?" I told him that I
had never once perceived it. He then bade me

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 321
call to the wife of Sbietta, who, with Cecchino
Buti, ran up and down in a constant hurry, and
desire her to sit down at table. I used so many
intreaties, that I at last prevailed on the woman to
take her place. She was sorry, she said, we did
not like our supper, which appeared by our eat
ing so little. After having several times praised
the entertainment, assuring her that I had never
tasted any thing better, or with a better appe
tite, I at last told her I had eaten enough. I
could not immediately guess why she pressed
me so earnestly to eat. When we had done sup
per it was past eight o'clock, and I had a mind
to return that night to Trespiano, in order to
have it in my power to resume my business in
the morning. So I took my leave of the rest of the
guests, and having returned the hostess thanks,
set out upon my journey.
I had scarcely travelled three miles when I felt
my stomach burn dreadfully, and was tormented
with such pangs, that I thought it an age till I
arrived at my farm of Trespiano. I with great
difficulty reached the place that night, and im
mediately went to bed. The whole night I had
no rest, my bowels being violently disordered.
No sooner was it broad day-light, but I felt my
self all on fire. I soon found reason to conclude
that I had eaten something of a poisonous nature,
and began to revolve within myself what it could
possibly be. I recollected the dishes and por-
VOL. II. y

322 MEMOIRS OF
ringers that were given me by Sbietta's wife,
which appeared so different from those set before
the rest of the company. I at the same time
called to mind that the designing priest, Sbietta's
brother, after having taken so much pains to
make me welcome, did not choose to stay to sup
with us. It farther occurred to my memory, that
this priest had boasted of his brother's having
made a fine bargain, in selling a farm for life to
an old man, who would never see the end of the
year ; for these words had been repeated to me
by the worthy del Sardella: so I concluded that
they had given me in a porringer of sauce, which
was very high-seasoned, and extremely pala
table, a dose of sublimate, as sublimate pro
duces all the symptoms with which my illness
was attended. I never, indeed, was used to eat
much sauce or savoury things with my victuals,
but to be content with salt alone. I however
took two spoonfuls of the sauce in question, as
it was extremely relishing; and I recollected
that Sbietta's wife had several times pressed me
to eat of it; as likewise that they had had re
course to a variety of artifices to make me take
the destructive sublimate.
Though I found myself thus disordered, I went
to work at my great model of Neptune, but my
illness in a few days so overpowered me, that I
was confined to my bed. As soon as the du
chess heard that I had been taken ill, she ordered

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 323
the unfortunate marble to be put into the hands
of Bartolommeo Ammanato, who sent me word
that I might do what I pleased with my model,
for he had won the marble so much contested.
I did not, upon hearing this, act like his master
Bandinello, who was used to launch out into a
superfluity of words : I contented myself with say
ing, that I had always guessed it would turn out
so ; and desired Bartolommeo to exert his utmost
efforts in shewing himself worthy of the favour
which fortune had conferred on him. Thus I
continued very ill, confined to my bed, and was
attended by that skilful physician signor Fran
cesco di Monte Varchi, and by a surgeon named
Raffaello de' Pilli. The sublimate had so burnt
up my bowels, that I could not retain my food
a moment ; but as signor Francesco found that
the poison had entirely exhausted its power of
hurting, for it was unable to subdue that strength
of nature which he perceived to be in my consti
tution, he said to me one day : " Benvenuto, re
turn thanks to God ; you have got the better of
your disorder. Be under no apprehensions, for I
am resolved to cure you in spite of the villains who
endeavoured to bereave you of life." Raffaello
de' Pilli then cried out, " This will be one of the
greatest and most difficult cures that was ever
heard of. Do you know, Benvenuto, that you
swallowed a whole spoonful of sublimate ?" At
these words signor Francesco interrupting him,
y 2

324 MEMOIRS OK
said : " Perhaps there was some poisonous in
sect in it." I then told them, that I knew to a
certainty what sort of poison it was, and who
gave it me : and here we were all silent. They
attended me above six months ; and it was above
a year before I was able to resume my business.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 325

CHAPTER XXI.

CeUini upon his recovery is particularly favoured by Don
Francesco the duke's son — Injustice done him by the ma
gistrates in a law-suit between him and Sbietta — He appeals
to the duke, but meets with no redress — Farther injustice
done him in his dispute with Sbietta, by the treachery of
Raffaello Schieggia— The duke and duchess pay him a visit,
and he presents them with a marble crucifix— They are both
reconciled to him, and promise him every sort of assistance
and encouragement — A proposal is made him by Catherine
de' Medici, queen dowager of France, to settle in that king
dom and erect a magnificent mausoleum to her husband
Henry II. — This the duke prevents — The cardinal of Medici
dies, which occasions much grief at the court of Florence —
Cellini in great anguish of mind sets out for Pisa.
About this time the duke went to Sienna * to
make his public entry into that city, and Amma
nato had repaired thither some months before to
erect the triumphal arches : on this occasion a na-

* Towards the end of October 1560, the duke (Cosmo I.) set
out from Florence accompanied by the duchess ; — prince Fran
cesco} the Cardinal Giovanni, and Don Garzia his third son,

326 MEMOIRS OF
tural son of Ammanato's, who continued to occu
py the room where we worked, removed a sort of
a veil which I had thrown over my model of Nep
tune to keep it from being seen. I immediately
went to make a complaint of this to Don Fran
cesco, the duke's son, who always appeared to
be my friend. I represented to him that they
had uncovered my figure, which was still imper
fect, but that, if it had been finished, it would
have given me no concern at ail. To this the
prince answered, shaking his head : " Benvenuto,
do not give yourself any trouble about covering
the figure, for they think theirs much superior to
yours ; but if you require it to be kept covered,
I will instantly give orders accordingly." To these
words his excellency added many more highly
to my advantage in the presence of several
noblemen. I then requested him to give me an
opportunity of finishing it, as I proposed making

were to follow them. On the 28th, escorted by a splendid train
of Florentine nobility, he made his entrance into Sienna, where he
was received with the strongest demonstrations of joy. He was
there entertained for three days ; and leaving the care of his go
vernment to prince Francesco, he proceeded with the duchess
and his two sons to Rome. The escort consisted of more than
eight hundred noblemen and gentlemen. On his approach to
the city he was received by the Cardinals Borromeo and Vitelli ;
and farther on, by the Cardinals of Ferrara, Santa Fiore, &c. ;
and so conducted into the Consistorial Court, where he was wel
comed by the Pope. Returning into Tuscany, after celebrating
the Christmas in Rome, he visited the whole of his dominions.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 327
a present of it, as well as the little model, to his
excellency. He replied that with pleasure he ac
cepted of both, and would order all the conve
niences to be given me, that I could require in
my business. So I subsisted upon this little fa
vour, which in some measure restored my health ;
for so many ills and calamities had befallen me,
that I began to sink under them, but, upon this
glimmering of princely encouragement, I began
to comfort myself with some hopes of life.
A year being now expired since my purchasing
the farm of Fonte from Sbietta, and finding that,
besides all the injuries he had done me, both
by poison and by chicane, the farm did not pro
duce what he had promised ; as I had, besides the
contract, a writing signed by Sbietta's own hand,
who had entered into an engagement before wit
nesses to pay me the yearly product of the farm ;
I addressed myself to the magistrates of the city
of Florence. At that time signor Alfonso Quistello
was living : he was superintendent ofthe treasury,
and sat with the other counsellors, amongst whom
were Averardo Serristori and Federigo de' Ricci.
I cannot recollect the names of them all, but
amongst them there was one of the Alessandri :
let it suffice to observe that they were all persons
of great distinction. When I had laid my case
before those magistrates, they were unanimously
of opinion that Sbietta should refund the money
he had received from me, except Federigo de'
Ricci, who at that time had connexions with Sbi-

3l!8 MEMOIRS OF
etta. All the rest expressed their concern, that
Federigo de' Ricci should prevent them from de
ciding in my favour : amongst others, Averardo
Serristori was particularly clamorous on the oc
casion, as was likewise one of the Alessandri.
Federigo having at last so protracted the cause
that the magistrates put an end to the time of
their sitting, the gentlemen above-mentioned came
up to me one morning in the square of the Nun
ziata, when the magistrates had all left the court,
and said with a loud voice : " Federigo de' Ricci
has been too powerful for us all, so that you lost
your cause in spite of us." I shall make no ob
servation on this subject for fear of offending those
at the helm of government: let it suffice to say,
that I lost my cause on account of a rich citizen,
who employed the grazier from whom I had
bought my farm.*
The duke being at Leghorn, I waited on his ex
cellency to solicit him to dismiss me, perceiving
that I had entirely recovered my health and
strength : as I found myself quite out of employ-
* Of Federigo de' Ricci, the son of Ruberto, Ammirato gives
a long account in his " Famiglie Nobili Florentine," from which
it appears that he at last rose to the rank of a senator of Flo
rence : that he was a man every where known, for having en
riched his family without assuming the least pride or consequence,
and that he was the very mirror of sobriety, economy, industry,
modesty, and gentleness, &c. &e. It does not appear, however,
that in this list of virtues, there is any mention of justice and in
tegrity, qualities so desirable in persons born to the exercise of
dignities.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 329
ment, I was displeased with a state of indolence ;
so I formed a resolution to go directly to Leghorn,
where I found the duke, and met with the most
gracious reception. I made some stay in that
town, and every day rode out with his excellency,
so that I had a fair opportunity of saying what
ever I thought proper to him. The duke used to
ride several miles out of Leghorn by the sea-side,
where he was building a little fortress *; and that
he might not be troubled with too great a number
of attendants, he chose to have me with him as
a companion. One day finding myself caressed by
his excellency in a particular manner, I formed
a resolution to turn the conversation to Sbietta,
that is, Pier Maria of Anterigoli,and thus expressed
myself: " My lord, I must lay before your excel
lency a most extraordinary case, by hearing which
you will know the cause that prevented me from
finishing the earthen Neptune, on which I was
employed in my work-house : — you are to under
stand that I purchased a farm of Sbietta for life :" —
Let it here suffice, that I gave the duke a cir
cumstantial account of the whole affair, never in
* The facts here stated chiefly relate to the beginning of the
year 1561. When the duke visited Sienna, to give new direc
tions respecting the government, and to take measures of defence,
by strengthening the fortress formerly erected by the Spaniards,
and proceeding along the line of coast long exposed to incur
sions of infidels, he caused new fortifications to be raised, parti
cularly at Grossetto, on the site of Castiglione and Livorno, and
personally superintended the building of new gallies.

330 MEMOIRS OF
the least deviating from the truth, or dashing it
with the smallest mixture of falsehood. When I
came to the affair of the poison, I said that if ever
my services had been acceptable to his excel
lency, he should, instead of punishing Sbietta and
those who had administered the poison, confer
some reward on them ; for they had not given me
a sufficient dose to kill me, but just enough to re
move a dangerous viscosity which I had in my
stomach and intestines ; and it operated in such a
manner, that whereas in my former state of health
1 might have lived only three or four years, this
extraordinary sort of physic had produced such
an effect, that I reckoned upon having gained a
new lease of twenty years : in short, 1 found my
self better than ever, and returned thanks to the
Almighty, being sensible that the saying which I
had so often heard was verified, namely, that God
afflicts us occasionally for our good.
The duke listened to me with the utmost atten
tion, whilst we rode above two miles together,
and only once exclaimed, " O the wicked people !"
I concluded with observing, that I was highly
obliged to them, and entered upon more agreeable
topics of conversation. I one day accosted him
just at the right season, and finding him in a
humour that suited my purpose, requested his
excellency to dismiss me, that I might no lon
ger lose my time ; adding, that I was still able
to work, and that as to what remained due to me
for my Perseus, his excellency might pay me

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 331
whenever he thought proper. I at the same time
returned him thanks in a long speech, and with
much ceremony ; yet he made me no answer, but
appeared to be highly offended. The day follow
ing, signor Bartolommeo Concino*, one of his
excellency's chief secretaries, said to me in a sort
of bravado, "The duke declares, that if you
desire .to be dismissed you may, but that if you
choose to work he will employ you ; and it were
to be wished you could execute as much as his
excellency will please to order." I made answer,
" that I desired nothing more than to be em
ployed, especially by his excellency, whose ser
vice I preferred to that of any other great person
age living, whether Pope, Emperor, or King;"

* Bartolommeo Concini was born at Terra Nuova, in the
Valdarno. He exercised the profession of a Notary Criminal
in the provincial tribunals, and by means of Lucrezia de' Medici,
daughter of Lorenzo, was taken into the immediate service of
duke Cosmo I. Having acquired great experience by a long resi
dence at the Court of Charles V., he was employed in many im
portant embassies, which he conducted with so much skill as to
entitle him to high favour with the duke. Though Torrelli held
the place of first secretary, Concini had the entire direction of
the whole of his foreign affairs. During the war of Sienna, he had
the full confidence of the duke, when the counsellors of state, the
citizens, and even the Marquess Marignano, were ignorant of his
designs, beyond the mere execution of them. Concini had
arranged with Charles V. the various objects and conditions of
the war, and was appointed, during the campaign, to watch over
the* conduct of the Marquess Marignano, while he was entrusted
with the secret intentions of the duke Cosmo.

332 MEMOIRS OF
adding, " that I should be better pleased to serve
him for a penny than another for a ducat." He
replied, that if my sentiments were such as I
represented them, I need say no more, for we
were both perfectly agreed. " Return," said he,
"to Florence, and be of good cheer: the duke
wishes you well." Accordingly I returned to
Florence. As soon as I arrived at this city, a person of
the name of Raffaello Schieggia, who worked in
gold tissue, called at my house, and told me that
he wanted to make up matters between me and
Pier Maria Sbietta. 1 answered him, that the
magistrates of Florence alone could settle affairs
between us ; and that Sbietta must not always
expect to have upon the bench a Federigo de'
Ricci, ready, for a present of two fat kids, to take
his part, without fear of God, or regard for his
own honour, and shamefully do an outrage to
justice and right. When I had uttered these
words, with many others to the same effect, this
Raffaello continued to remonstrate with me, that
it was better to eat a thrush in peace, than a large
capon, if it could not be had without broils and
contention. He added, that a lawsuit is often spun
out to such a length, that it would be more for
my interest to dedicate that time to making some
elegant piece of work, by which I should acquire
much greater reputation as well as emolument.
As I was sensible that his observation was just, I

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 333
began to listen to what he had to propose : so that
he soon compromised matters between us in the
manner following. Sbietta was to take the farm
of me, and pay me for it regularly sixty gold
crowns per annum during my natural life. When
we were come to have the contract drawn up,
which was to be done by signor Giovanni di Ser
Matteo da Falgano, Sbietta said, in the manner
we had settled it, the farm would produce more,
and could not possibly fail ; therefore it was better
that we should make the lease for five years,
adding, that he would adhere inviolably to his
engagement, without ever giving occasion to
any other suit. The same promises were made
in the most solemn manner by the rogue of a
priest, his brother, so the contract was drawn up
for the term of five years. As it is my inten
tion to enter upon another subject, and to have
done with this mystery of iniquity, I shall only
take notice of what passed during fifteen years
after making out the last lease. The two vil
lains, instead of keeping any of the promises
they had made me, were for returning me my
farm, and did not choose to keep the lease of it
any longer. I complained very much of this
usage, and they had recourse to such chicanery
with regard to the contract, that I had no resource
against their indirect proceedings. When I per
ceived this, I told them that the duke and the
prince his son would not suffer them to do such

334 MEMOIRS OF
flagrant injustice to a citizen of Florence. This
menace so terrified them, that they again sent
to me the same Raffaello Schieggia, who had
made up matters between us at first, to declare
that they were not willing to pay me the sixty
gold crowns they had done for five years past.
I made answer that I would take nothing less
Raffaello came to me and said, " My friend Ben
venuto, you know very well that I am in your
interest : they have all referred the affair to me."
Thereupon he shewed me a writing with their
names signed to it. I, who was not aware that
Raffaello was their near relation, thought myself
in very good hands ; so I left the management of
the affair entirely to him. This rogue came to
me one evening, within half an hour of night
fall, in the month of August, and made use of
many arguments and persuasions to prevail on
me to sign the contract whilst I was alone, be
cause he knew that if he deferred it till the morn
ing the trick would be discovered. So the con
tract was signed, by which he engaged to pay
me regularly sixty-five crowns a-year in two
payments, during the course of my natural life :
and though I made a great stir about the affair,
and would by no means submit to such terms, he
shewed the writing with my name to it, which
made all that saw it declare me to be in the
wrong. The fellow at the same time affirmed,
that what he had done had been for my good,

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 335
and that he was entirely in my interest ; so, as
neither the notary, nor any body else, knew of
his being related to my adversaries, I was con
demned by the general voice : I therefore gave
up the contest in time, and shall endeavour to
do the best I can for the future. — I likewise com
mitted another capital error in the month of De
cember of the following year, 1566. I purchased
half the farm of Poggio from them, that is, from
Sbietta and the rest, for two hundred crowns.
This farm borders upon my other of Fonte, and I
let it to them for three years. Herein I thought
I acted wisely. I should become too prolix were
I to give a full account of all the ill usage I re
ceived from those people : I therefore leave the
whole affair to the Almighty, who has always
espoused my cause against those who have in
jured me.
Having completely finished my marble crucifix,
I thought that if I raised it a few cubits above
the ground, it would appear to much greater
advantage than if it were placed immediately
upon it ; so I began to shew it to whomsoever
had a mind to see such an exhibition. The duke
and duchess, being informed of this, one day upon
their return from Pisa came unexpectedly with a
grand retinue to my workshop, in order to see
this image of Christ upon the cross. It pleased
them so highly, that their excellencies, as well
as all the nobility and gentry present, bestowed

336 MEMOIRS OF
the highest encomiums on me*. When I found
that it gave them such satisfaction, by their ex
tolling it to the skies, I said, that the reason of
my producing such a work was, their having
deprived me of the fine Neptune marble ; and
though I had undergone infinite labour in its
execution, yet with pleasure I made them a pre
sent of it, thinking none more worthy of that fine
piece of work than their excellencies : I only
requested, that before they departed, they would
vouchsafe to enter my humble habitation. At
these words they rose with great complaisance,
and, leaving the shop, entered my house, where
they perceived my little model of Neptune, and
the fountain which the duchess had never seen
* However desirous Cellini seems to have been to reserve his
work of the Crucifixion as an ornament for his own tomb (see
p. 302), he resolved to relinquish it in favour of his patroness
the duchess. He received a message from the duke, through
M. Guido Guidi, saying that he should be glad to " have that
figure of Christ," as appears also from one of Cellini's Ricordi,
dated July 1561. It was not, however, accepted as it was
meant ; as in another of the Ricordi, of the date of Februarv
1565, given also in the preface to Cellini's Treatises, we learn
that the duchess informed him, through Concini, that she
wished to pay him for tlie full value of it ; and that, in fact, the
duke gave 1500 crowns, and ordered it to be deposited in the
Palazzo Pitti, in August 1565. From thence it was sent to
Spain, in 1577, intended as a present from the grand duke
Francesco I. to King Philip II. who had it placed in the church
of the Escurial as an ornament to the choir. — See Vasari's ac
count of it.

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 337
before. So greatly was her excellency affected
with the sight, that she burst into a loud excla
mation of surprise, and, addressing herself to the
duke, said, " I declare, my lord, I could never
have formed a conception of any thing so beau
tiful." The duke answered her more than once,
" Did I not tell you it would prove so ?" Thus
they talked a long time in praise of my abilities,
and the duchess seemed, as it were, to ask par
don for her. past treatment of me. She told me
that it was her pleasure I should make choice
of a piece of marble myself, and begin immedi
ately to work upon it. To these kind words I
made answer, that if they gave me the means, I
should, for their sake, cheerfully engage in so
arduous an undertaking. The duke replied,
" Benvenuto, you shall have all the helps you
require, and I likewise shall give you some of
my own contriving, which will be far more
effectual than the others." Having expressed
himself in these obliging terms, he withdrew,
together with the duchess, and left me highly
pleased. Several weeks, however, passed with
out my being taken any farther notice of; inso
much that, seeing no orders given for furnishing
me with what I wanted, I began to be half dis
tracted and in despair.
At this very juncture the Queen- dowager of
France dispatched signor Baccio del Bene to our
duke, to solicit the loan of a sum of money : the
duke in the kindest manner granted her request ;
VOL. II. z

338 MEMOIRS OF
at least so it was generally reported.* As signor
Baccio del Bene and I were intimate friends, we
were very glad to see each other ; and he gave me
an account of all the favours conferred on him by
his excellency. Upon this occasion he asked me
what works I had in hand : I mentioned to him
the affair of Neptune and the fountain, and all
the duchess had done to injure me. He then
told me that the queen had a strong desire to
finish the sepulchral monument of her husband,
* In his History of Tuscany, in the year 1562, Galluzzi gives
the following account of the coalition entered into between the
contending parties in France. " The union of the King of Na
varre (Antoine de Bourbon, who married Jeanne d'Albret), of
the Constable, Anne de Montmorency, and of Francois de Lor
raine, duke of Guise, which was called in France the Trium
virate, was found insufficient to put an end to civil discord,
or to restrain the ambitious and warUke spirit of the Prince of
Conde, who, together with the Admiral CoUgny, at the head of
the Hugonots, opposed the Court. The system adopted by
Catherine de' Medici, mother of Charles IX. was to support an
equality of power, so as to enable her to assume an ascendancy
over the different parties, to which however her talents seemed
to be unequal. By artifice and promises, seconded by talents
and resolution, the party of the prince already threatened the
existence of the throne and capital. Under such circumstances
it was thought necessary to have recourse to foreign assist-
'ance, and King Philip was the first to offer it. The Queen-
mother dispatched Baccio del Bene to tlie duke Cosmo for
pecuniary aid, who sent him back with the sum of 100,000
ducats. This Baccio appears to have been often employed on
similar embassies, being again sent in 1567. (See Galluzzi and
Meccati.)

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 339
king Henry ; and that Daniel of Volterra * had
undertaken to make a great horse of bronze for
that purpose ; but he was too far advanced in
years, and the monument required a variety of
•ornaments ; so that, if I chose to return to
* Daniello Ricciarelli da Volterra, an artist of considerable
merit, for which however he was more indebted to a close atten
tion and study of his art than to any superiority of genius. He
studied under Gio. Antonio Razzi and Baldassar Peruzzi, in
Tuscany ; and in Rome, under Pierino del Vaga : but after paint
ing several excellent pieces, amongst which was one in fresco,
a " Christ taken down from the Cross," justly admired by the
first artists in Rome, and placed in the Chiesa della Trinita de'
Monti, in the time of Paul IV., he relinquished this branch of
art, devoting himself wholly to casting and sculpture. Being
of a slow genius, he produced few specimens, except those in
stucco, held in high estimation, in addition to the horse here
mentioned by Cellini, as left unfinished. Vasari, in his life of
Ricciarelli, mentions it at length, and says, that after the death
of Henry II. killed in a tournament on the 4th of July, 1559, his
widow, the queen Catherine de' Medici sent Ruberto Strozzi to
Rome, in order to consult with Michel Angelo on a monument in
honour of the deceased king ; but Michel Angelo, declining the
undertaking on account of his advanced age, advised him to
apply to Ricciarelli, at the same time giving his opinion upon the
subject. After much deliberation, it was determined that Ric
ciarelli should cast a horse1 in bronze, one sixth larger than
that of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, which stands in the Gampi-
doglio, with the figure of the King in bronze, armed ready for
the joust. But owing to the Pope's insisting on the completion
of other works Ricciarelli had in hand, he was repeatedly inter
rupted and prevented from bringing this statue to a conclu
sion. Being of delicate health, and too eager to complete his
work, he fell into a gradual decline, which carried him off in the
57th year of his age.
z 2

340 MEMOIRS OF
France, and again take possession of my castle, I
should be abundantly supplied with whatever I
wanted, in case I was willing to serve her ma
jesty. I desired Baccio to apply to the duke,
telling him, that if his excellency consented, I
would return to France with pleasure. Baccio
then told me in high glee, that we should set out
for France together, looking upon the affair as
concluded. The day following he happened to
have an interview with the duke, when he took
occasion to speak of me, and told his excellency
that, if it were agreeable to him, the Queen his
mistress would take me into her service. The
duke made answer : " Benvenuto is a man of
great genius, as every body knows ; but now he
chooses to work no longer." Thus the conversa
tion was changed to other topics.
The next day I repaired to Baccio, who re
peated to me all that had passed between him and
the duke. Upon which I began to be quite out
of patience : "If, said I, when his excellency did
not employ me, I of myself executed one of the
most difficult pieces of work that ever was seen,
which cost me upwards of two hundred crowns,
what would have been the result, in case his ex
cellency had set me to work ? I must say he does
me wrong : he has hurt me greatly." The gentle
man repeated this answer of mine to the duke,
who declared that he had been jesting, and what
he meant was to keep me in his own service. This
provoked me greatly, and I had several times a

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 341
great mind to decamp. The Queen of France did
not care to propose the thing any more to the
duke, for fear of offending him ; so that I was
obliged to stay, much against my will. About
this time the duke went a journey with his whole
court, and his sons, excepting only the prince, who
was then in Spain *: they travelled along the sea-
coast of Sienna, and in that manner arrived at
Pisa. The unwholesome air affected the cardinal
before any of the rest, so that he was attacked
by a malignant fever, which in a few days put
an end to his life.f He was one of the duke's
* In order to give his son Francesco a more complete insight
into the master art of ruling, the duke Cosmo sent him to culti
vate the acquaintance and friendship of Philip II. king of Spain.
He first went on a visit to the Pope at Rome, and having been
received with every mark of distinction, he returned with the
Pope's benediction home, and thence proceeded to embark at
Leghorn, arriving at Roses on the 4th of June 1562.
f In addition to the fortifications mentioned, Cosmo I. carried
on many other improvements in the Tuscan territories, particu
larly in reclaiming the low marshy lands, and draining the un
wholesome fens : and having a great inclination, as well as his
sons, for the chace, he was accustomed to pass most part of the
hunting-season on the downs near the sea, returning during the
more inclement months to Pisa. He left Florence with all his
family in 1562, and going through Sienna, thence proceeded along
the sea coasts to the castle of Rosignano, a situation well adapted
to the chace. Instead of pleasures, however, Cosmo experienced
only a series of misfortunes in this expedition. Between the 21st
of November and the 1 8th of December, the same year, he lost his
son the Cardinal, his third son Don Garzia, and his wife Donna
Leonora, while his fourth son Francesco lay extremely ill. He

342 MEMOIRS OF
chief supports, and highly beloved by him, being a
person of great virtues and abikties ; consequently
had, also, the additional mortification to find that from these
very calamities arose fresh griefs, even of a more poignant na
ture, in reports industriously spread and believed, which cast
disgraceful and dishonourable imputations upon his famUy. Gio
vanni Strozzi has some allusion to it in the following letter to
his master, dated December 7th : " I am sorry to have to inform
you, that a report prevails here, founded on letters received by
several prelates from Rome, relating to the death of the Ulustri
ous Cardinal Giovanni, stating that he died of a wound inflicted
by the hand of his brother, whde engaged in the chace. The
letters arrived yesterday, though I since hear that secret informa
tion to the same effect had been received many days, only now
divulged from a variety of sources. The secretary and I endea
vour, both by argument and ridicule, to shew the falsehood of
such idle and scandalous reports, at which I am sensible your
excellency will be displeased, but stdl it is my duty to acquaint
you with them. Your excellency will, thus, perceive what is
going forward, and the quarter (Rome)from whence it proceeds."
We must observe that in this city, there were likewise many Flo
rentine exiles, decided enemies to the Medici, who were glad to
give countenance to the report. The truth is, that the Car
dinal with his two brothers, Don Garzia and Don Ferdinando,
having fallen sick about the same time (as indeed the duke gave
information to his eldest son, on the 21st November), the former
after three weeks illness, died on the 6 th December, at Pisa ; and
on the 18 th his mother Donna Leonora, who had long laboured
under a slow fever, followed him to the tomb. From the sud
denness of this, and other circumstances, the gravest historians,
such as Adriani and Ammirato, were unable to convince the
world of the absurdity and falsehood of such an account. Even
Meccati, in his Chronological History of Florence, relates, that
" The Cardinal Giovanni having gone out to hunt with Don Gar
zia, his younger brother, there arose a dispute as to which of

BENVENUTO CELLINI. 343
his loss was severely felt. I let several days
pass, till I thought their tears and grief must

them had the best title to the quarry ; when Don Garzia, in an
impulse of passion, wounded his brother the Cardinal, in such a
manner that he died of it within four days. His father, trans
ported with indignation, was about to sacrifice Garzia to his fury,
when he took refuge in his mother's arms, who, having somewhat
appeased her husband, led her son back to intreat pardon at his
father's feet. But Cosmo, giving way to rage, stabbed Don
Garzia on the spot, who fell dead in his mother's presence, who
stood transfixed with terror, and died of a broken heart, for the
loss of her two sons within a short time." Muratori, in his An
nals, after alluding to the death of Cosmo's two sons, proceeds
to state with the utmost gravity several improbable circum
stances : " It was very generally believed at that time, that, the
brothers being at variance, Don Garzia in a transport of passion
slew his brother the Cardinal, while hunting together at a dis
tance from their attendants. The duke Cosmo ordered the body
to be placed in a private apartment, where he sent for Garzia,
supposed to be the perpetrator of the deed. The moment he
entered, the blood from the wounds of the deceased was ob
served to flow afresh, and Cosmo, seizing the sword of Garzia,
kUled him with his own hand : while it was given out that they
had both died suddenly of a fever. What truth there may be in
such a report, it is quite impossible to say. It is certain, how
ever, that their mother Donna Leonora di Toledo, overpowered
with grief, shortly followed her children to the tomb." In an
swer to this, the letters of the duke Cosmo on the occasion are
well known, and express all the grief and affection which a kind
father might be supposed to feel, without discovering the least
traces of design. From these, the two sons seem to have been
equally beloved. Don Garzia is first mentioned as being unwell,
together with Don Ferdinando, who is repeatedly mentioned as
" My poor angel of a boy." Nor do we think that the duke
would have deposited the remains of his children in the same

344 MEMOIRS, &C.
in some measure have subsided ; and then I re
paired to Pisa.
[Here ends Benvenuto Cellini's manuscript.]

vault, the fratricide with his victim, had there been any truth
in such a report. Alfieri, however, has availed himself of this
domestic calamity, to exhibit a political romance, in his cele
brated tragedy of Don Garzia, which, though excellent as a
drama, wiU always, to persons at aU acquainted with history, seem
improbable and absurd.

SUPPLEMENT

MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI.

From the period of the death of the Cardinal
Giovanni de' Medici, in 1562, at which event
the narrative of Cellini breaks off, this cele
brated artist, then in the 62 d year of his age,
does not appear to have been engaged in any
work of much importance. After the execu
tion of his grand achievement of the Perseus,
indeed, the account of his life seems to have
been the most successful of all the labours
of his remaining years. Many extracts from a
note-book which he kept, containing various
memoranda (called ricordi) of his domestic and
professional transactions, have been preserved,
and even published ; but , these are in general
trivial and uninteresting. They have, however,
furnished a few facts, which, amongst other in
formation, are here connected into a succinct ac
count of our author, relating chiefly to the period

346 SUPPLEMENT TO THE
subsequent to the termination of his own me
moir. That interesting work was begun, as we have
seen, towards the end of the year 1558; and the
greater part of it seems to have been submitted
to the inspection of Varchi in less than six months
after, according to the following letter, which
has been preserved : —
" To the most excellent and learned Signor
Benedetto Varchi.
" I am quite rejoiced with what you say about
this plain story of my life, and that it pleases
you better, in this familiar way, than if polished
and revised by another ; by which the truth with
which I have described every thing might not so
clearly appear. For I have taken care to say
nothing relating to such things as my memory
was doubtful of; so that I might only speak the
real truth, leaving out many wonderful events
that any other person would have been careful
to make the most of. But having had occasion
to relate several astonishing actions and great
affairs, and not wishing to make too bulky a
volume, I thought it preferable to leave out many
of the lesser ones. I send my servant in order that
you may give him my cloak-bag and my book :
and, as I think that you cannot have read the
whole of it, and not wishing to occupy your time
with such a trifle, as well as because you obliged
me in what 1 asked of you, and for which I now

MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. 34?
sincerely thank you and am truly satisfied, I
beg you will not take the trouble of proceeding
farther with it, but send it back. As to the Son
net, I had much rather you would keep it by
you, in order that it may receive a little polish
from your unrivalled pen. Henceforward I hope
to come and see you, and you know I am always
glad to be of use to you in every way that lies in
my power. Take care of your health I beg of
you, and preserve me in your esteem.
" Always your very humble servant,
" Benvenuto Cellini.
"Florence, May 2, 1555."
Of the Sonnet to which Benvenuto alludes in
this letter, an imitation is attempted : —
sonnet.
As o'er my past and painful life I pause,
But not unheedful of Heaven's gracious care,
Shielding the gift it gave : in mind I bear
Proud deeds I did, yet Uve. In honour's cause
I served, and high adventures were my laws,
Till fortune bow'd to toils no cowards dare,
And worth and virtue bore me onwards, where
Leaving the crowd, I pass'd on with applause.
One thought still irks me : that my life's best prime
Of richest promise, vain and idly fled,
Bearing my best resolves, like air away,
Which I could now lament, but have no time.
Lo welcome born*, I proudly raise my head,
Fair Florence' son— bright flower of Tuscany.

* Alluding to his own name of Benvenuto.

348 SUPPLEMENT TO THE
There is also the following memorandum in
Cellini's hand-writing relating to the manu
script : —
" I at first began this account of my life in my
own hand-writing, as may easily be seen from
some of the folded leaves : but finding that I lost
too much of my time, and thinking it an uncon
scionable piece of vanity, it luckily happened
that I met with a young lad, the son of Michel
di Goro della Pieve a Groppino, only about
fourteen years of age, and rather weak and
sickly. I set him to work, to write down what I
dictated, composing my life whilst I laboured
hard at the business ; and it thus gave me more
pleasure, and even made me more industrious
than before. In this manner I got rid of such an
irksome charge, leaving it to him until such time
as I hope to summon resolution to take it up
again." By a minute, dated December 12, 1554, it
appears that the claims of our author to be ad
mitted into the rank of the Florentine nobility
were on that day approved. His own narrative
contains few particulars of the events of that and
several succeeding years, but it is evident that
he was involved in litigation and embarrass
ments. In 1558 he received the tonsure to qua
lify him for holy orders; from which we may,
perhaps, infer, that he intended to close his
career in monastic retirement; but two years

MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. 349
afterwards, at the age of threescore, he preferred
the hymeneal altar to the gloom of a cloister.
A grant, which he obtained from Duke Cosmo
in 1561, is remarkable for the testimony it bears
to the talents and reputation of Benvenuto, as
well as for its ostentatious pretensions to the
dignity of patronage.
"We hereby acknowledge and make known,
that considering it the duty of a prince to protect
and encourage superior and distinguished cha
racters wherever they appear; we have a sin
gular regard for our Florentine citizen, Benve
nuto Cellini. In casting, in sculpture, and other
branches of art, we look upon his productions,
both in marble and bronze, as evident proofs
of his surpassing genius and incomparable skill.
And in consideration of his admirable talents, and
our regard for him, we present him with a house
in Florence, situated near San Croce, in the Via
Rosajo, to belong to him and to his legitimate
heirs, on the male side, for ever: and by so
doing, we shall not only honour and render
more conspicuous the genius we admire, but
also indulge our own taste, good will, and un
questioned power. Possessing the house and its
appurtenances, with a garden, for his own use,
we expect the return for the favours shewn him
will appear in those master-pieces of art, both of
casts and sculpture, which may entitle him to our
farther regard. We send this in token of our
good will and pleasure, subscribed and ratified

350 SUPPLEMENT TO THE
by our hand and seal. — Given at our castle of
Pietra Santa, the 5th day of May, in the year.
of our Lord 1561, of our dukedom of Florence
the 26th year, and of Sienna the 5th."
Cellini had on the 16th of March, 1563, the
melancholy honour of being deputed to attend
the obsequies of his great master and friend Mi
chel Angelo Buonarroti : Bartolommeo Ammanati
was the other eminent sculptor who accompanied
Cellini ; while Giorgio Vasari and Agnolo di Co
simo, called Bronzino, represented the painters of
Florence on this solemn occasion.
About the year 1560, Benvenuto married a fe
male who had nursed him with great care during
the illness which he attributed to poison, sus
pected to have been administered to him by the
Sbietta family. He had made a vow to this effect
during his indisposition, and was probably in
duced to take this step by the existence of
an illegitimate son, whom he afterwards had
naturalized. It is supposed that his wife was
the same person who was in his service at the
time of casting the Perseus, and whom he men
tions as the most prudent and kindest of wo
men. The name given in the Life is, however,
Mona Fiore, whilst his wife is called in his will
Madonna Piera ; but this difference might very
probably happen from the mistakes of transcribers
or printers, which in this work have been innu
merable. By this wife, Cellini had five legitimate
children, two of whom died in their infancy.

MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. 351
Previously to his marriage he had adopted one
Antonio, the son of Domenico Sputasenni and
Dorotea his wife, who had for about four years
served Cellini as a model for his Medusa, and
other female figures. Sputasenni, a profligate
character, being sentenced to imprisonment, his
wife, with her infant, applied for assistance to Cel
lini, who not only maintained her husband during
his confinement, but supported her also ; and at
length adopted the child, intending, as he then
had no son of his own, to make him a skilful ar
tist. But the boy turning out extremely stupid,
idle, and indocile, was found to be fit for nothing
but a friar, and became a friar accordingly, by the
name of Frk Lattanzio.
After Cellini's marriage, Sputasenni, who had
long resided at Pisa, came to Florenee, and con
trary to Cellini's express commands, took the
young man away with him. Cellini, having then
a child of his own, renounced all farther connexion
with the Sputasenni family, and considered him
self discharged of all responsibility with respect
to the son. But in 1570, Sputasenni the father
commenced a suit against Cellini, to compel him
to provide for Antonio as his adopted son, and to
secure for the latter a share of Cellini's property
after his decease. It should seem that Benve
nuto had suffered a judgment by default, for a
sentence was given against him, which, upon pe
tition to the duke, was annulled.
On the 15th day of February, 1570, this most

352 SUPPLEMENT TO THE
ingenious artist and extraordinary man departed
this life. His funeral is recorded in the register
of the purveyors to the Academy of Drawing,
marked with the letter E at the papers 31, from
the year 1563 to 1571, as follows: "I record it,
that on the present eighteenth of February, was
buried Signor Benvenuto Cellini, the sculptor ; and
he was buried by his own direction in our Chapter
house of the Nunziata, with a grand funeral pomp,
at which were present our whole Academy, to
gether with the Company. When we had re
paired to his house, and were seated in proper
order, after all the monks had passed by, the bier
was lifted up by four of the academicians, and
carried with the usual attendance to the Nun
ziata; the ceremonies of the church being there
performed over it, it was taken by the same aca
demicians, and conveyed to the Chapter-house;
the ceremonies of divine worship being repeated,
a monk, who had been charged the evening
before to compose the funeral sermon of Sig
nor Benvenuto, in praise both of his life and
works, and his excellent moral qualities, mounted
the pulpit, and preached a funeral sermon, which
was highly approved of by the whole Academy
and by the people, who struggled to get into the
Chapter, as well to see the body of Benvenuto,
as to hear the commendation of his good quali
ties. The whole ceremony was performed with a
great number of wax-lights, both in the Church
and the Chapter-house thereunto belonging."

MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. 353
In a manuscript belonging to the heirs of Ben
venuto Cellini, which with many other books
written in his own hand, as well as his posses
sions and effects, were long after inherited by the
company of S. Martino of Buonuomini, we meet
with what follows.
" Benvenuto, the son of Giovanni Andrea Cel
lini, sculptor and citizen of Florence, makes his
Will in the year 1569, on the eighteenth of De
cember : he desires to be buried in the church of
the Nunziata, in the tomb which he proposes to
erect for himself; and in case it should not be
finished at the time of his death, he desires to be
interred in the burying-place of the company of
painters, in the cloisters of the said church. He
acknowledges the portion of Madonna Piera, his
lawful wife, whose family name is omitted. Re-
parata, Magdalen, and Andrea Simon, were the
lawful issue of him and the said Piera. He ap
points his said son his heir, to whom he substi
tutes Signor Librodoro, the son of Annibal de'
Librodori, doctor of laws and advocate, his ne
phew (according to the common copy of the
will), who resided at Rome. He left guardian of
his said children, the magistrate of wards, re
questing him to constitute as administrators of
his succession, Signor Piero della Stufa, a canon
of Florence, the said Signor Librodoro, and An
drea, the son of Lorenzo Benivieni.
" On the twelfth of January, in the year of our
Lord 1570, he made a Codicil, confirming his Will,
vol. n. 2 A

354 SUPPLEMENT TO THE.
&c. and adding to the number of the above admi
nistrators Domenico di Niccolo, the son of Chris
tofano Mannozzi, citizen of Florence.
" On the third of February, in the year of our
Lord 1570, he made a second Codicil, by which
he bequeathed all his statues, finished or unfi
nished, to prince Francesco de' Medici.
" On the sixth of February, in the year of our
Lord 1570. he made a third Codicil, whereby he
provided for his daughters. All these were drawn
up by Giovanni, the son of Matteo of Falgano,
notary and citizen of Florence."
We cannot conclude this supplemental account
better than with the following extract from
Vasari's " Lives of Painters and Sculptors,'
Vol. II. p. 283.
" Benvenuto Cellini, citizen of Florence, at
present a sculptor, in his youth cultivated the
goldsmith's business, and had no equal in that
branch for many years, nor in making fine figures
of alto and basso rilievo, and every other work
belonging to that ingenious art. He set jewels,
and adorned them with admirable collets, and
diminutive figures so exquisitely formed, and some
of them so curious and fanciful, that nothing
finer or more beautiful can be conceived. The
medals which he made in his youth of gold
and silver, were wrought with the utmost dili
gence and accuracy, and cannot be sufficiently
praised. At Rome, he made for Pope Clement
VII. a button, to be worn upon his potifical

MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. 355
habit, fixing a diamond to it, with the most
exquisite art, round which were certain figures
of children, represented on plates of gold, and a
figure of God the Father, admirably engraved.
Besides being paid for his labour, he was, by the
Pope, invested with the office of mace-bearer.
Being afterwards employed by the same Pontiff
to make a chalice of gold, the cup of which was
to be carved with figures, representing the theo
logical virtues, he brought that work to a con
clusion with admirable ingenuity. There was no
man in that age, amongst the numbers who tried
their hands at such work, more successful in
making the medals of that Pope than Cellini, as
is well known to those who have seen such pieces
and keep them in their possession. Hence he
was employed to make the stamps for the Roman
Mint, and there were never seen finer coins than
those that were struck in Rome at that period.
After the death of Pope Clement, :' envenuto
returned to Florence, where he likewise made
stamps with the head of duke Alessandro, for
the Mint of Florence, so wonderfully beautiful,
that some of them are preserved to this day as
ancient medals; and with goodreason, for he,
xn them, surpassed himself. Benvenuto having
at last attached himself to sculpture and casting
statues, made in France many works of bronze,
silver, and gold, whilst he was employed at the
court of King Francis. He afterwards came back
to his native country, and entered into the service

356 SUPPLEMENT TO THE
of duke Cosmo, by whom he was at first em
ployed as a goldsmith, and afterwards in certain
pieces of sculpture. He executed in metal, the
statue of Perseus, who cut off Medusa's head,
which stands in the Piazza, hard by the gate of
the Ducal Palace, upon a basis of marble, with
some fine bronze figures, about a cubit and two
feet one-third high. This work was brought to
perfection with the greatest art and diligence
imaginable, and set up in an honourable place in
the Piazza, upon a par with the Judith of that
renowned sculptor Donato. It was indeed asto
nishing that Benvenuto, having been accustomed
to make little figures so many years, should
succeed so happily in bringing so large a statue
to perfection.
" The same artist likewise made a Christ upon
the Cross, as big as the life, a most exquisite and
extraordinary performance. The duke keeps it
as a piece which he sets a very great value upon,
in the Palace of Pitti, in order to place it in the
little chapel, which he is erecting there, and
which could contain nothing more grand nor
more worthy of so illustrious a prince. In a
word, this work cannot be sufficiently com
mended. "Though I might here enlarge on the produc
tions of Benvenuto, who always shewed himself
a man of great spirit and vivacity, bold, active,
enterprising, and formidable to his enemies; a
man, in short, who knew as well how to speak to

MEMOIRS OF BENVENUTO CELLINI. 357
princes as to exert himself in his art, I shall
add nothing farther, since he has wrote an ac
count of his life and works, and a treatise on
goldsmiths work, as well as on casting statues
and many other subjects, with more art and
eloquence than it is possible for me to imitate.
I shall therefore content myself with giving this
succinct account of his chief performances."

THE END.

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