Our Francesco formerly had one, too, and also Gismondo similarly.
Be careful about it because it is dangerous." The name of Michael Angelo's good friend, Jacopo Gallo, appears in the agreement drawn up concerning the crowning work of this the first Roman period, the Pieta, called the Madonna della Febbre, first placed in the Chapel of Santa Petronilla, and now in the Chapel of Santa Maria della Febbre, on the right of the entrance to St.Peters, in Rome.

The commission for this work was given by the Cardinal Jean de la Grostaye de Villiers Francois, Abbot of St.Denis, called in Italy Cardinal di San Dionigi.

It is dated August 26, 1498.
[Image #4] THE MADONNA BELLA PIETA SAINT PETER'S, ROME (_By permission, of the Fratelli Alinari, Florence_) "Be it known and manifest to whoso shall read the ensuing document, how the Most Reverend Cardinal of San Dionigi has agreed with the master, Michael Angelo, sculptor of Florence, that the said master shall make a Pieta of marble at his own cost; that is, a Virgin Mary clothed, with the dead Christ in her arms, of the size of a proper man, for the price of four hundred and fifty golden Papal ducats, within the term of one year from the day of the beginning of the work" (the Cardinal agrees to pay certain sums in advance).

The contract concludes: "And I, Jacopo Gallo, promise to his Most Reverend Monsignore that the said Michael Angelo will finish the said work within one year, and that it shall be the most beautiful work in marble which Rome to-day can show, and that no master of our days shall be able to produce a better.

And similarly I promise the said Michael Angelo that the Most Reverend Cardinal will disburse the payments as written above; and in good faith, I, Jacopo Gallo, have made the present writing with my own hand, according to date of year, month, and day, as above."(76) Jacopo's boast and promise were justified, for even now there is no finer complete work of sculpture in the whole of Rome than the Pieta at St.
Peter's.