Plutarch relates that a bad painter showed Apelles a picture, saying: 'This is from my hand; I have just made it in a moment.' The other replied: 'I should have recognised the fact without your telling me; and I marvel that you do not make a multitude of such things every day.'" Michelangelo is reported to have made a similar remark to Vasari when the latter took him to inspect some frescoes he had painted, observing that they had been dashed off quickly.
We must be grateful to Francis of Holland for this picture of the Sunday-morning interviews at S.Silvestro.The place was cool and tranquil.

The great lady received her guests with urbanity, and led the conversation with highbred courtesy and tact.

Fra Ambrogio, having discoursed upon the spiritual doctrines of S.Paul's Epistles, was at liberty to turn an attentive ear to purely aesthetical speculations.
The grave and elderly Lattanzio Tolomei added the weight of philosophy and literary culture to the dialogue.

Michelangelo, expanding in the genial atmosphere, spoke frankly on the arts which he had mastered, not dictating _ex cathedra_ rules, but maintaining a note of modesty and common-sense and deference to the opinion of others.

Francis engaged on equal terms in the discussion.