Therefore, I am of opinion that, without some shadow of yourself, we shall never induce those parties to do what we want.

It seems to me that you might easily make designs and models, and afterwards assign the completion to any master whom you choose.

But the shadow of yourself there must be.

If you take the matter in this way, it will be a trifle; you will do nothing, and seem to do all; but remember that the work must be carried out under your shadow." A series of despatches, forwarded between December 4, 1531, and April 29, 1532, by Giovan Maria della Porta to the Duke of Urbino, confirm the particulars furnished by the letters which Sebastiano still continued to write from Rome.

At the end of 1531 Michelangelo expressed his anxiety to visit Rome, now that the negotiations with the Duke were nearly complete.