In order that no copy of the Giant should exist which was not his own handiwork, he had it cast in bronze, of the size of the original, for his good friend Pier Soderini, who sent it to France; and similarly he cast a David with Goliath under him.

The one to be seen in the middle of the court-yard of the Palazzo de'Signori is by Donatello, a man excellent in his art, and much praised by Michael Angelo, except for one thing--he had not the patience to properly polish his works; so that in the distance they look admirable, but close to they lose their quality.

Michael Angelo also cast a bronze group of the Madonna with her Son in her lap, which was sent into Flanders( 31) by certain Flemish merchants, the Moscheroni, great people at home; they paid him one hundred ducats for it.

And, in order not altogether to give up painting, he executed a round panel of Our Lady( 32) for Messer Agnolo Doni, a Florentine citizen, for which he received seventy ducats.
XXIII.

It was some time since he had worked at that art, having given himself up to the study of poets and authors in the vulgar tongue and writing sonnets for his own pleasure.