A considerable part of this time was of course taken up with the preparation of Cartoons; and the nature of fresco-painting rendered the winter months not always fit for active labour.

The climate of Rome is not so mild but that wet plaster might often freeze and crack during December, January, and February.
Besides, with all his superhuman energy, Michelangelo could not have painted straight on daily without rest or stop.

It seems, too, that the master was often in need of money, and that he made two journeys to the Pope to beg for supplies.

In the letter to Fattucci he says: "When the vault was nearly finished, the Pope was again at Bologna; whereupon, I went twice to get the necessary funds, and obtained nothing, and lost all that time until I came back to Rome.

When I reached Rome, I began to make Cartoons--that is, for the ends and sides of the said chapel, hoping to get money at last and to complete the work.