This he nearly finished.

It stands now in the chamber of the Prince of Florence; a thing of rarest beauty, though not quite completed." This noble piece of sculpture illustrates the certainty and freedom of the master's hand.

Though the last touches of the chisel are lacking, every limb palpitates and undulates with life.

The marble seems to be growing into flesh beneath the hatched lines left upon its surface.
The pose of the young god, full of strength and sinewy, is no less admirable for audacity than for ease and freedom.

Whether Vasari was right in his explanation of the action of this figure may be considered more than doubtful.