He sought to attain grandeur by greatness in the masses and by economy of the constituent parts.

His method of securing amplitude was exactly opposite to that of Sangallo, who relied upon the multiplication rather than the simplification of details.

A kind of organic unity was what Michelangelo desired.

For this reason, he employed in the construction of S.Peter's those stupendous orders which out-soar the columns of Baalbec, and those grandiose curves which make the cupola majestic.

A letter written to the Cardinal Ridolfo Pio of Carpi contains this explanation of his principles.