elf with Domenico
Ghirlandajo in order to learn the art of painting; wherefore Granacci,
loving Michelagnolo, and perceiving that he was much inclined to
design, supplied him daily with drawings by Ghirlandajo, who at that
time was reputed to be one of the best masters that there were not
only in Florence, but throughout all Italy. Whereupon, the desire to
work at art growing greater every day in Michelagnolo, Lodovico,
perceiving that he could not divert the boy from giving his attention
to design, and that there was no help for it, and wishing to derive
some advantage from it and to enable him to learn that art, resolved
on the advice of friends to apprentice him with Domenico Ghirlandajo.
Michelagnolo, when he was placed with Domenico Ghirlandajo, was
fourteen years of age. Now he who wrote his life after the year 1550,
when I wrote these Lives the first time, has said that some persons,
through not having associated with him, have related things that never
happened, and have left out many that are worthy to be recorded, and
has touched on this circumstance in particular, taxing Domenico with
jealousy and saying that he never offered any assistance to
Michelagnolo; which is clearly false, as may be seen from an entry by
the hand of Lodovico, the father of Michelagnolo, written in one of
Domenico's books, which book is now in the possession of his heirs.
That entry runs thus: "1488, I record, this first day of April, that
I, Lodovico di Leonardo di Buonarrota, placed Michelagnolo my son with
Domenico and David di Tommaso di Currado for the three years next to
come, on these terms and conditions, that the said Michelagnolo shall
remain with the above-named persons for the said period of time, in
order to learn to paint and to exercise that vocation; that the said
persons shall have command over him; and that the same Domenico and
David shall be bound to give him in those three years twenty-four
florins of full weight, the first year six florins, the second year
eight florins, and the third ten florins; in all, the sum of
ninety-six lire." And next, below this, is another record, or rather,
entry, also written in the hand of LOdovico: "The aforesaid
Michelagnolo has received of that sum, this sixteenth day of April,
two gold florins in gold. I, Lodovico di Leonardo, his father, have
received twelve lire and twelve soldi as cash due to him." These
entries I have copied from the book itself, in order to prove that all
tha