His veneration for Buonarroti, and the eagerness with which he noted all the great man's utterances, did not prevent him from delivering lectures at a somewhat superfluous length.

In short, we may fairly accept his account of these famous conferences as a truthful transcript from the refined and witty social gatherings of which Vittoria Colonna formed the centre.
IV This friendship with Vittoria Colonna forms a very charming episode in the history of Michelangelo's career, and it was undoubtedly one of the consolations of his declining years.

Yet too great stress has hitherto been laid on it by his biographers.

Not content with exaggerating its importance in his life, they have misinterpreted its nature.

The world seems unable to take interest in a man unless it can contrive to discover a love-affair in his career.