So he went to the Pope and said: 'I already told your Holiness that painting is not my trade; what I have done is spoiled; if you do not believe it, send to see.' The Pope sent San Gallo, who, after inspecting the fresco, pronounced that the lime-basis had been put on too wet, and that water oozing out produced this mouldy surface.

He told Michelangelo what the cause was, and bade him proceed with the work.

So the excuse helped him nothing." About the fresco of the Deluge Vasari relates that, having begun to paint this compartment first, he noticed that the figures were too crowded, and consequently changed his scale in all the other portions of the ceiling.

This is a plausible explanation of what is striking--namely, that the story of the Deluge is quite differently planned from the other episodes upon the vaulting.

Yet I think it must be rejected, because it implies a total change in all the working Cartoons, as well as a remarkable want of foresight.
Condivi continues: "While he was painting, Pope Julius used oftentimes to go and see the work, climbing by a ladder, while Michelangelo gave him a hand to help him on to the platform.