Francis I.had it cast and sent to Paris, to be repeated in bronze.

What is more strange, it has long been the object of a religious cult.

The right foot, so mangled by poor Pietro, wears a fine brass shoe, in order to prevent its being kissed away.

This almost makes one think of Goethe's hexameter: "Wunderthaetige Bilder sind meist nur schlechte Gemaelde." Still it must be remembered that excellent critics have found the whole work admirable.

Gsell-Fels says: "It is his second Moses; in movement and physique one of the greatest masterpieces; as a Christ-ideal, the heroic conception of a humanist." That last observation is just.