s by his hand, including the Moses, were assigned to the Tomb, the
execution of the rest being left to competent workmen under him.(150)

There is also a petition from Michael Angelo to Paul III.(151) stating
that his Holiness the Pope's commission for Michael Angelo to work and
paint in his new chapel prevents him finishing the Tomb as agreed with the
illustrious signor Duke of Urbino. "Already Raffaello da Monte Lupo, the
Florentine, considered one of the best masters of the time, was well
forward with the standing group of the Madonna with the Child in her arms,
and a Prophet and a Sibyl seated, for four hundred scudi. The rest of the
decoration, excepting the part in front, was in the hands of Master
Giovanni de' Marchesi and Francesco da Urbino, chisellers and carvers in
stone, for seven hundred scudi. But there still remained to be supplied
the three figures to be carved by Michael Angelo's own hand, that is to
say, a Moses and two captives. But as the two said captives were designed
for the work when it was to have been on a much larger scale, they would
not fit in the reduced design, nor could they in any way be made to look
well there. Accordingly the said Messer Michael Angelo, not to lose his
honour, had blocked out two new statues to go on either side of the Moses,
representing the Active and Contemplative Life, which are well advanced,
so that they may be easily finished by another master. Michael Angelo
desires and supplicates his Holiness our Lord the Pope Paul the Third, in
order that he may work in his chapel, which needs all his energies and his
entire care, and he being aged, and desiring to serve the Pope with all
his power, to free him from his obligation to the signor Duke of Urbino
with regard to the said Tomb, cancelling and annulling every obligation.
Especially, to allow him to hand over the two statues that remain to be
done to the said Raffaello da Montelupo, or to some one pleasing to his
Excellency, for a good price, which it is thought would be 200 scudi. The
Moses will be finished entirely by Michael Angelo, and arrangements will
be made by Michael Angelo to pay the money due for these workers ... and
so he will be free in all things and able to serve and satisfy his
Holiness." Finally, he deposits a sum of 1200 crowns, and guarantees that
the work shall be efficiently executed in all its details. The final
contract in agreement with this petition was signed upon August 20,
1542.(152)

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