Pope Julius III. being dead, and Paul IV. being elected Supreme Pontiff, the Cardinal di Carpi sought to procure the permission of His Holiness for the completion by Daniello, of the Hall of Kings; but that Pontiff not taking any pleasure in pictures, made answer to the effect that it was much better to fortify Pome, than to spend money in painting it. He consequently caused the great gate of the Castle to be commenced, after the designs of Salustio, the son of Baldassare Peruzzi of Siena, his architect; but he likewise commanded that five statues, of four bracia and a half high, should be placed in the niches of that work, which was in travertine, and formed a sumptuous and magnificent triumphal arch, when one of these statues, representing the Angel Michael, was given to Daniello; the commissions for the remaining three having been accorded to other artists.[1]
Meanwhile Monsignore Giovanni Riccio, Cardinal of Monte Pulciano, having resolved to construct a Chapel, in San Pietro-a -Montorio, exactly opposite to that which Pope Julius had caused to be erected there after the designs of Georgio Vasari, proposed to confide the altar-piece, the stories in fresco, and the statues in marble, to Daniello; wherefore that artist, who had now determined to abandon painting and devote himself entirely to sculpture, departed for Carrara, there to superintend the excavation of the marbles for the work in question, as well as for the Statue of San Michele. On this occasion he visited Florence, and there saw the works which Vasari was in process of executing in the Palace of Duke Cosimo, with other performances to be seen in that city, where he was received with infinite courtesy and attention by many friends, more especially by the abovenamed Vasari, to whom Buonarroti had recommended Daniello in his letters. Thus abiding in Florence, and seeing how greatly the Signor Duke delighted in the arts of design, Daniello conceived the purpose of attaching himself to the service of his Most Illustrious Excellency, and the Signor Duke having replied to those by whom he was recommended, to the effect that he might be introduced by Vasari, it was so done. Then Daniello, offering himself at that audience to the service of his Excellency, the latter replied most amicably, that he accepted him very willingly, and that so
- ↑ No one of these statues was ever placed in the position here indicated. —Bottari.
