an, and, moreover, it is bad for the body and
soul. Whilst you are young you will be able to bear these hardships for a
time, but when the strength of youth fails you, disease and infirmities
will develop, for they are engendered by hardship, mean living, and
penurious habits. As I said, economy is good. But, above all, do not be
penurious; live moderately and do not stint yourself; above all things
avoid hardships, because in your art, if you fall ill (which God forbid),
you are a lost man; above all things have a care of your head, keep it
moderately warm, and never wash; have yourself rubbed down, but never
wash. Buonarroto also tells me that you have a swelling on your side; it
comes from hardship or fatigue, or from eating something bad and windy, or
suffering the feet to be cold or damp. I have had one myself, and it still
troubles me when I eat windy food, or when I endure cold or such like
things. Our Francesco formerly had one, too, and also Gismondo similarly.
Be careful about it because it is dangerous."

The name of Michael Angelo's good friend, Jacopo Gallo, appears in the
agreement drawn up concerning the crowning work of this the first Roman
period, the Pieta, called the Madonna della Febbre, first placed in the
Chapel of Santa Petronilla, and now in the Chapel of Santa Maria della
Febbre, on the right of the entrance to St. Peters, in Rome. The
commission for this work was given by the Cardinal Jean de la Grostaye de
Villiers Francois, Abbot of St. Denis, called in Italy Cardinal di San
Dionigi. It is dated August 26, 1498.

[Image #4]

THE MADONNA BELLA PIETA

SAINT PETER'S, ROME
(_By permission, of the Fratelli Alinari, Florence_)

"Be it known and manifest to whoso shall read the ensuing document, how
the Most Reverend Cardinal of San Dionigi has agreed with the master,
Michael Angelo, sculptor of Florence, that the said master shall make a
Pieta of marble at his own cost; that is, a Virgin Mary clothed, with the
dead Christ in her arms, of the size of a proper man, for the price of
four hundred and fifty golden Papal ducats, within the term of one year
from the day of the beginning of the work" (the Cardinal agrees to pay
certain sums in advance). The contract concludes: "And I, Jacopo Gallo,
promise to his Most Reverend Monsignore that the said Michael Angelo will
finish the said work within one year