to Rome and made some indiscreet inquiries. Furious, he wrote the following lines to him:
"Leonardo! I have been ill, and you rushed to Ser Giovan Francesco's to see if I had left anything. Haven't you enough of my money at Florence? You cannot belie your family and avoid resembling your father, who drove me from my own house in Florence! Know that I have made a will in such a manner that you have nothing to expect from me. Go then with God; let my eyes see you no more, and never write to me again!"[1]
These outbursts of anger had little effect on Leonardo, for they were generally followed by affectionate letters and presents.[2] A year later he again rushed to Rome, attracted by a promise of a gift of 3000 crowns. Michael Angelo, hurt by this interested haste, wrote to him as follows:
"You have come to Rome in furious haste. I do not know whether you would have come so quickly had I been in poverty and in need of bread! . . . You say that it was your duty to come, through love of me! Yes! the love of a wood-worm.[3] Had you loved me, you would have written: 'Michael Angelo, keep the 3000 crowns and spend them on yourself; for you have given so many to us that that is sufficient. Your life is dearer to us than
- ↑ Letter of July 11, 1544.
- ↑ Michael Angelo was the first to inform his nephew, during an illness in 1549, that he had mentioned him in his will. The will was as follows: "To Sigismondo and you I leave all I possess; in such a manner that my brother Sigismondo and you, my nephew, have equal rights, and neither can exercise authority over my possessions without the consent of the other."
- ↑ "L'amore del tarlo!"
