That old Greek artist, when he wanted to depict a Venus, was not satisfied with the sight of one maiden only.

On the contrary, he sought to study many; and culling from each the particular in which she was most perfect, to make use of these details in his Venus.

Of a truth, he who imagines to arrive at any excellence without following this system (which is the source of a true theory in the arts), shoots very wide indeed of his mark." Condivi perhaps exaggerated the influence of lovely nature, horses, dogs, flowers, hills, woods, &c., on Michelangelo's genius.

His work, as we know, is singularly deficient in motives drawn from any province but human beauty; and his poems and letters contain hardly a trace of sympathy with the external world.

Yet, in the main contention, Condivi told the truth.