I After the death of Clement VII.

Michelangelo never returned to reside at Florence.

The rest of his life was spent in Rome.

In the year 1534 he had reached the advanced age of fifty-nine, and it is possible that he first became acquainted with the noble lady Vittoria Colonna about 1538.

Recent students of his poetry and friendships have suggested that their famous intimacy began earlier, during one of his not infrequent visits to Rome.