hip was
entertaining Cibo, Salviati, and Messer Baldassarre da Pescia to
dinner, they having assembled together there in order to settle all
that was necessary in the matter of the tombs. While they were at
table, then, there arrived the sculptor Solosmeo, an amusing and
outspoken person, who was always ready to speak ill of anyone, and
little the friend of Baccio. When the message was brought to those
lords that Solosmeo was seeking admittance, Ridolfi ordered that he
should be ushered in, and then, turning to Baccio, said to him: "I
wish that we should hear what Solosmeo says of our bestowal of these
tombs. Raise that door-curtain, Baccio, and stand behind it." Baccio
immediately obeyed, and, when Solosmeo had entered and had been
invited to drink, they then turned to the subject of the tombs
allotted to Baccio; whereupon Solosmeo reproached the Cardinals for
having made a bad choice, and went on to speak all manner of evil
against Baccio, taxing him with ignorance of art, avarice, and
arrogance, and going into many particulars in his criticisms. Baccio,
who stood hidden behind the door-curtain, was not able to contain
himself until Solosmeo should have finished, and, bursting out
scowling and full of rage, said to Solosmeo: "What have I done to you,
that you should speak of me with such scant respect?" Dumbfounded at
the appearance of Baccio, Solosmeo turned to Ridolfi and said: "What
tricks are these, my lord? I want nothing more to do with priests!"
and took himself off. The Cardinals had a hearty laugh both at the one
and at the other; and Salviati said to Baccio: "You hear the opinion
of your brothers in art. Go and give them the lie with your work."

[Illustration: STATUE OF GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE

(_After the marble by =Baccio Bandinelli=. Florence: Piazza di S.
Lorenzo_)

_Brogi_]

Baccio then began the work of the statues and scenes, but his
performances by no means corresponded to his promises and his duty
towards those Pontiffs, for he used little diligence in the figures
and scenes, and left them badly finished and full of defects, being
more solicitous about drawing his money than about working at the
marble. Now his patrons became aware of Baccio's procedure, and
repented of what they had done; but the two largest pieces of marble
remained, those for the two statues that were still to be executed,
one of Leo seated and the other of Clement, and these they ordered him
to finish, beseeching him th