an antique for two hundred ducats, an evidence, not of
the Cardinal's foolishness, but of Michael Angelo's careful study of
the antique.

23 The Cardinal S. Giorgio made Messer Baldassari refund the two
hundred ducats and take the Cupid back, so Michael Angelo got
nothing for his journey. Cesare Borgia presented this Cupid to
Guidobaldo di Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino. After Cesare Borgia
sacked the town of Urbino in 1592 he sent the Cupid to the
Marchioness of Mantua, who wrote on July 22, 1592, describing the
Cupid as "without a peer among the works of modern times." There is
a sleeping Cupid at Mantua in the Museo Civico, but it is not by
Michael Angelo. Signor Fabriczy holds that a Cupid preserved in the
museum at Turin may be Michael Angelo's original work, but the
translator has not seen it.

24 Michael Angelo arrived in Rome for the first time at the end of June
1496, and wrote in July to Lorenzo di' Pier Francesco de' Medici.
The letter bears a superscription to Sandro Botticelli; historians
presume from this that it was not safe to write openly to any of the
Medici.

"2nd day of July, 1496.

"Magnificent Lorenzo,--I only write to inform you that last Saturday
we arrived safely, and went at once to visit the Cardinal di San
Giorgio; and I presented your letter to him. It appeared to me that
he was pleased to see me, and he expressed a wish that I should go
immediately to inspect his collection of statues. I spent the whole
day there, and for that reason was unable to deliver all your
letters. On Sunday the Cardinal came into the new house, and had me
sent for. I went to him, and he asked me what I thought about the
things I had seen. I replied by stating my opinion, and certainly I
can say with sincerity that there are many fine things in the
collection. Then he asked me if I had the courage to make some
beautiful work. I answered that I should not be able to achieve
anything so great, but that he should see what I could do. We have
bought a piece of marble for a life size statue, and on Monday I
shall begin to work. On Monday last I presented your other letter of
recommendation to Rucellai, who offered me what money I might want;
also those to Cavalcanti. Af