some beautiful antique to send to
him in Florence.

Being requested at this time by the Pope for a design for the Porta
Pia, Michelagnolo made three, all fantastic and most beautiful, of
which the Pope chose the least costly for putting into execution; and
it is now to be seen erected there, with much credit to him.
Perceiving the inclination of the Pope, and hoping that he would
restore the other gates of Rome, he made many other designs for him;
and he did the like, at the request of the same Pontiff, in the matter
of the new Church of S. Maria degli Angeli in the Baths of Diocletian,
in order to convert them into a temple for the use of Christians. A
design by his hand prevailed over many others made by excellent
architects, being executed with such beautiful considerations for the
convenience of the Carthusian Friars, who have now carried it almost
to completion, that it caused his Holiness and all the prelates and
lords of the Court to marvel at the judgment of the lovely conceptions
that he had drawn, availing himself of all the skeleton of those
baths, out of which was seen formed a most beautiful temple, with an
entrance surpassing the expectations of all the architects; from which
he acquired infinite praise and honour. For that place, also, he
designed for his Holiness a Ciborium of the Sacrament in bronze, cast
for the most part by Maestro Jacopo Ciciliano, an excellent
bronze-caster, who makes his works come out very delicate and fine,
without any roughness, so that they can be polished with little
labour; in which field he is a rare master, and gave much satisfaction
to Michelagnolo.

[Illustration: S. MARIA DEGLI ANGELI

(_After =Michelagnolo=. Rome_)

_Alinari_]

The Florentine colony had often talked among themselves of giving a
good beginning to the Church of S. Giovanni in the Strada Giulia.
Finally, all the heads of the richest houses having assembled
together, they each promised to contribute in due proportion according
to their means towards that fabric, insomuch that they contrived to
collect a good sum of money; and then it was discussed among them
whether it were better to follow the old lines or to have something
new and finer. It was determined that something new should be erected
upon the old foundations, and finally they elected three men to have
the charge of the fabric, who were Francesco Bandini, Uberto Ubaldini,
and Tommaso de' Bardi; and these requested Michelagnolo for a design,