Wherefore I am acting on my own account, and am making a statue for my own pleasure.

I bought the marble for five ducats, and it turned out bad.

So I threw my money away.

Now I have bought another at the same price, and the work I am doing is for my amusement.

You will therefore understand that I too have large expenses and many troubles." During the first year of his residence in Rome (between July 2, 1496, and August 19, 1497) Michelangelo must have made some money, else he could not have bought marble and have worked upon his own account.
Vasari asserts that he remained nearly twelve months in the household of the Cardinal, and that he only executed a drawing of S.Francis receiving the stigmata, which was coloured by a barber in S.Giorgio's service, and placed in the Church of S.Pietro a Montorio.