So I took it in hand, and when Michel Agnolo saw it, he praised me to the skies." The courtesy shown by Michelangelo on this occasion to Cellini may be illustrated by an inedited letter addressed to him from Vicenza.

The writer was Valerio Belli, who describes himself as a cornelian-cutter.
He reminds the sculptor of a promise once made to him in Florence of a design for an engraved gem.

A remarkably fine stone has just come into his hands, and he should much like to begin to work upon it.

These proofs of Buonarroti's liberality to brother artists are not unimportant, since he was unjustly accused during his lifetime of stinginess and churlishness.
II At the end of the year 1528 it became clear to the Florentines that they would have to reckon with Clement VII.

As early as August 18, 1527, France and England leagued together, and brought pressure upon Charles V., in whose name Rome had been sacked.