By straining the art of sculpture to its utmost limits, Michael Angelo expressed vehement emotions in marble; and the forced attitudes affected in his work had their value as significant of spiritual struggle.

His imitators showed none of their master's sublime force, none of that _terribilita_ which made him unapproachable in social intercourse and inimitable in art.

They merely fancied that dignity and beauty were to be achieved by placing figures in difficult postures, exaggerated muscular anatomy, and twisting the limbs of their models upon sections of ellipses in uncomfortable attitudes, till the whole of their work was writhen into uncouth lines.

Buonarroti himself was not responsible for these results.

He wrought out his own ideal with the firmness of a genius that obeys the law of its own nature, doing always what it must.