figure,[1] when I, having induced the Duke Alessandro to recall Michelagnolo and the other masters, to the end that the Sacristy commenced by Pope Clement should be finished, was disposing matters in such sort as to give him occupation in Florence, and without doubt should have succeeded, but just at that time occurred the death of Alessandro, he being killed by Lorenzo di Pier Francesco de Medici;[2] and by this circumstance, not only was the above-mentioned purpose frustrated, but the prosperity of art was interrupted, and its greatness rendered matter of despair.
Being informed of the Duke’s death,Tribolo bewailed it with me in his letters, entreating me, after he had done his best to console and encourage me, to endure patiently the loss of that great prince and my most gracious master; and furthermore he requested me, if I were going to Rome, as he had been told that it was my purpose to do, being fully resolved to abandon courts and pursue the studies of my art, to seek some kind of occupation for him, since, if I would procure him the aid of my friends, he would on his part undertake whatever works I should propose to him. But it so chanced that Tribolo did not need to seek further for occupation in Rome, and the reason thereof was on this wise. The Signor Cosimo de’ Medici, being created Duke of Florence, had no sooner freed himself from the troubles whereby the first year of his sovereignty was disquieted, by the total rout ot his enemies on Monte Murlo, than he began to provide himself with some little diversion and more particularly to frequent the villa of Castello, [3] which is situate at something short of two miles from Florence, and where he passed no small portion of his time. At this place then the Duke began to build a little, one thing after another, to the end that he might reside there more commodiously, himself and
- ↑ Now in the Chapel of the Relics in San Petronio, as has been remarked in a preceding note, see ante, p. 178.
- ↑ This happened on the Feast of the Epiphany, in the year 1537.— Ed. Flor., 1832-8.
- ↑ Moreni, Notizie Storiche dei Contorni di Firenze, informs us that the name of Castello does not in this case imply the presence of a previous fortress, but rather that of a point in the main course of an ancient aqueduct, at which a distribution of the waters to the city by means of minor branches, was effected, and which was called in the Latin, Castella; see tomo i. p. 101.
