Chapter Twenty-Four

Rome, 1501

Michelangelo rose very early the next day and spent the entire morning working on the stones for the cameos. Now that he had a plan and the pieces were falling into place, the work seemed easier.

Having already selected the pieces he would use, he attacked them with a passion born of confidence. His hands felt steady and his eyes remained clear and focused despite the dust that his tools raised from the stones.

As he moved from one piece to the next and from color to color, he could see the images clearly in his mind. All that was missing were the figures that he had been told would be supplied at the ball. He could have told the pope that he didn’t really need to attend the ball, but His Holiness had insisted. “I know you are familiar with the cardinals’ countenances, but there are faces at the ball that will be new to you,” the pope had said, “and they are every bit as important as the prelates when it comes to preserving them for posterity. Perhaps they will inspire you.”

Following the natural inclination of the rock, he spent the hours shaping each stone into either a circle or an oval and then beginning to scrape away the unneeded layers until he had reached those colors that offered the most striking contrast. He needed to have a white or pale “canvas” on which he would carve, sitting against a variant background.

The work went smoothly and surprisingly quickly, and by lunchtime, he had shaped and polished three stones to his liking. The stark contrast in hues appealed to his sensibility and the thickness was just about what he and Leonardo has discussed.

After a short break, he returned to the work - scraping, cutting, chiseling - and by early evening he had completed rough outlines for all seven.

All of a sudden, it hit him that he was famished, and he decided to eat before proceeding any further. After rummaging through his kitchen, he realized there was nothing in the house. Paolo had purchased no provisions while he was had been away, and he had not taken the time to restock his cupboard after returning from Florence.

Deciding that he needed to get away from the work, he thought he might purchase something in the nearby tavern.

As he entered, he saw a few familiar faces and they nodded at him in recognition. After ordering, he sat alone and watched as men and women flirted, and he found himself laughing out loud when an old drunkard leaned too far back on his stool and fell over.

He wondered if he might have been happier as a stableman or a soldier and then decided that he liked his life. God had blessed him with a gift, and who was he to question the Creator?

After leaving the tavern, he returned home, gathered up the stones, wrapping each one carefully in a piece of red velvet and carefully placing them in a saddlebag. He then began the walk to Piero’s house.

The sun had set hours earlier and the cooler air was refreshing. The thought that he had but a few days until this mysterious ball quickened his pace.

Long before he reached Piero’s house, he knew that Leonardo and Salai had arrived. He could hear Piero bellowing, and as he drew closer, he could hear Leonardo trying to act as a mediator.

Michelangelo knocked loudly on the door and entered. The yelling ceased momentarily, and Leonardo said, “Thank God, you are here. We arrived about an hour ago, and they have been at each other’s throats ever since.”

Leonardo turned to Piero and Salai and said in a stern voice, “Kill each other if you must, but do it quietly. Michelangelo and I have work to do.”

With that Leonardo reached into his pocket, fished out two gold coins and said, “Go! Eat! Drink! Fornicate! Fornicate with each other, I do not care, but leave us be. We need to focus, and tomorrow you will both earn your keep.”

Piero gave Michelangelo an apologetic look and then said to Salai, “Follow me. I will show you how to get the most for that florin.”

When they were gone, Leonardo looked at Michelangelo and said, “Did you bring the stones?”

Michelangelo put his bag on the table and began to remove the stones, one by one. As he did, Leonardo unwrapped and examined each one carefully. “You have done well, Michelangelo. I have but two suggestions.” Picking up one, he advised, “I think this could be thinner yet.” Selecting another, he said, “I hope this holds up. It seems to me, almost too thin. Have you other stones prepared in the event of an accident?”

“I have,” said Michelangelo, “but they are not nearly as finished as these. I am hoping they shan’t be needed.”

“Let us hope so,” said Leonardo, “but I would prepare one or two more just in case.” With that, he began measuring the stones and writing down the dimensions of each. When he had finished, he took a small balance scale and weights from his bag and began weighing each.

After he had finished, he turned to Michelangelo and said, “You have done well. They are all quite close. There are just a few grams difference between each.”

“And the cases?” asked Michelangelo.

“Now that I have the measurements, I can start tomorrow. If anything changes, if a stone should break, you must let me know immediately.”

“Tomorrow?” asked Michelangelo incredulously.

“After you left, I happened to remember that I had some extra silver lying about from the lyre that I made for Il Moro Sforza. I suppose I should have returned it, but there was something about that man that I found positively odious.”

Michelangelo laughed, “I met him but once, yet I know exactly what you mean.”

“Do you have enough to create all seven cases?” asked Michelangelo.

“If I am careful,” said Leonardo, “and we make certain that Salai doesn’t steal any.”

They laughed and then Michelangelo said, “You have been kinder to me than I deserve.”

“We all make mistakes, my son,” said Leonardo. “You were young and impetuous, and I took things more personally than perhaps I should have, At any rate, we have put all that unpleasantness in the past.”

“Now, how low long do you think it will take you to finish the first part?” asked Leonardo.

“That all depends upon the detail work. If I keep it relatively simple, I should have all of them completed by Wednesday morning - the day of this mysterious ball I told you about.”

“Leave two here tonight, if you can. That way I can start work first thing in the morning. Remember, though, the length and the width cannot change unless you tell me.”

“I understand,” said Michelangelo. “I shall leave you the largest circle and the largest ellipse. Will that help?”

“Enormously,” said Leonardo.

“And you’re sure silver, rather than gold?”

“I believe so. Silver is somewhat harder than gold, which means it will wear better, but it also makes intricate carvings that much more difficult. In this case, though, we want the focus to be on your images rather than the cases holding them - for obvious reasons. I will fashion ornate cases for you with some filigree work, but they will not be so beautiful that they detract from the cameos. After all, this is your commission, Michelangelo, not mine.”

“Still, if you wish gold, I will work in that medium. But that may take longer, as I will have to acquire it, and it will be far more expensive, obviously. The choice is yours,” added Leonardo.

“I will be guided by you” said Michelangelo.

“You really have grown up,” remarked Leonardo with a slight smile.

“Thank you,” said Michelangelo.

“Don’t thank me yet. And don’t think we won’t be trying to kill each other before this is over,” said Leonardo.

Michelangelo laughed, “Here are your stones, old man. Good luck trying to get Piero and Salai out of bed tomorrow morning.”

“I have my ways,” said Leonardo. “I shall see you tomorrow night, about this time?”

“Yes.”

“And you will have one or two finished stones for me to work with?”

“I shall try,” said Michelangelo.

“Safe home, my son,” said Leonardo. “I’m to bed, and if this weren’t Piero’s house, I would lock the door and leave them to fend for themselves.”

“Someday, you and I must have a discussion about Salai,” said Michelangelo.

“There is nothing to discuss,” said Leonardo.

From the tone in his voice, Michelangelo was certain that was a conversation that would never take place.

Deciding to subjugate his pride once more, Michelangelo said simply, “As you wish, maestro. Now sleep well.”